President William Ruto during during the Kapsabet High School centenary celebrations. Ruto recalled joining the institution in 1985 as a Form Five student acknowledging that today's celebrations were not just celebrations but an homecoming Party for him. Photo Courtesy. 
By Stanley Mumo.
President William Ruto delivered an emotional address at Kapsabet High School in Nandi County during the institution’s centenary celebrations, reflecting on his personal journey while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s education sector.
Speaking at the event on Thursday, the President described the occasion as a deeply personal homecoming to the school that played a critical role in shaping his life and leadership path. Ruto recalled joining the institution in 1985 as a Form Five student, describing his arrival as a moment filled with hope and ambition.
Standing before students, teachers, and alumni, the Head of State said the memories of his time at the school remained vivid even four decades later, noting that the discipline, friendships, and academic environment at Kapsabet High School helped shape his outlook on life and leadership.
“For many people this is a celebration of a great institution, but for me it is a homecoming,” the President said, adding that the lessons he learned at the school instilled the values of hard work, discipline, and the courage to dream beyond one’s circumstances.
Founded in 1925, Kapsabet High School is among Kenya’s oldest learning institutions. Ruto noted that the school holds a unique place in the country’s history, having produced two of Kenya’s five Presidents since independence.
However, he emphasised that the school’s legacy extends far beyond politics, pointing to thousands of alumni who have gone on to serve the nation as teachers, scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, athletes, and public servants.
Addressing the current students, the President urged them to remain focused on their ambitions regardless of their backgrounds, telling them that education remains the most powerful tool for social mobility.
“Education is the greatest equaliser known to humankind,” he said, noting that the government had placed the education sector at the centre of its national transformation agenda.
Ruto highlighted major investments his administration has made in education since taking office, revealing that nearly 30 percent of the national budget is currently allocated to the sector. According to the President, the education budget has grown significantly from KSh500 billion in 2022 to KSh702 billion in the current financial year.
He also outlined progress in implementing the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) system, noting that the pioneer cohort had successfully transitioned to Grade 10 with a transition rate of 99 percent.
In addition, the President said the government had constructed more than 23,000 classrooms across the country within three years and initiated the building of 1,600 modern science laboratories to strengthen learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
To address teacher shortages, Ruto revealed that the government had already recruited 100,000 teachers and planned to hire an additional 16,000 before the end of the year, describing the exercise as the largest teacher recruitment drive in Kenya’s history.
The President also defended reforms in higher education funding, saying the student-centred funding model had enabled learners from disadvantaged backgrounds to access scholarships and loans covering up to 95 percent of their education costs.
He added that university capitation had increased from KSh45 billion to KSh82 billion, while funding for scholarships and the Higher Education Loans Board had risen from KSh17 billion to KSh41 billion.
Ruto said the government’s broader objective is to build an education system that prepares learners for future opportunities by nurturing innovation, creativity, and adaptability.
“Our goal is not merely to prepare students for the opportunities that exist today, but to equip them with the imagination, skills and confidence to design the future,” he said.
As the school marked 100 years since its founding, the President congratulated the institution for nurturing generations of leaders and professionals, urging the current students to uphold its motto, “Strive to Excel.”
He expressed confidence that the next generation of leaders was already being shaped within the school’s classrooms and corridors, just as his own journey began there more than four decades ago.
