Remarks · 12 March 2026
The great Kapsabet High School family, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,
Standing here today is both an honour and a deeply personal moment for me.
For many people, today marks the centenary celebration of a great institution. But for me, it is something far deeper. It is a homecoming, a proud return to my alma mater.
I joined this great institution around this very time of the year in 1985 as student number 5065 in Form Five, and became a resident of Cheruiyot Dormitory, Solai House.
At the time, fresh from completing my O-Levels at Wareng High School, I walked through these gates carrying little more than hope, ambition, and a dream whose true meaning I did not yet fully understand.
That was 41 years ago. Yet standing here today, the memories remain as vivid as though it all happened yesterday.
I remember the classrooms, the dormitories, the laboratories, the playgrounds, the long walks across this compound, the friendships, the discipline, and the dreams quietly taking shape in the hearts of young men who had no idea what the future held for them.
Looking back today, I am reminded of the words of the late Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, who once said: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
As I reflect on my own journey, I can say with complete certainty that many of the dots that shaped my life began connecting right here. They began in these classrooms, in these laboratories, and on these playing fields.
It is here that I learned the value of discipline, the importance of hard work, and the courage to dream beyond circumstance. Above all, it is here that I internalised the guiding principle that has defined this institution for a century, the powerful call contained in the school motto: “Strive to Excel”. Ladies and gentlemen,
Just a few days ago, I had the privilege of attending the centenary celebrations of Alliance High School, which was founded in 1926. But as I reminded them on that occasion, before Alliance, there was Kapsabet High School, which was established a year earlier in 1925.
This great institution, therefore, stands among the oldest centres of learning and academic excellence in our country. And it carries a remarkable distinction. Out of the five Presidents who have led Kenya since independence, two were shaped within these very grounds.
But the story of Kapsabet High School is not only about presidents; it is also about thousands who passed through these gates carrying dreams in their hearts and determination in their minds. They went on to become teachers, doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, distinguished public servants, athletes, and leaders in many spheres.
And when I look at the young men gathered here today, I have absolutely no doubt that the next chapter of this great story is already being written, right before our eyes.
To the students here today, allow me to speak to you directly. Some of you may come from humble homes. Some of you may come from villages and towns whose names are not widely known.
Forty-one years ago, I was exactly where you are today. Just like you, I carried dreams whose full meaning I did not yet understand. This school helped give those dreams direction. It will do the same for you.
And why do I say this? Because I firmly believe that education is the greatest equaliser known to humankind 17. It is that very conviction that has guided our work in government right from the beginning. Since assuming office, we deliberately placed education at the centre of our national transformation agenda.
As I have stated on many occasions before, no investment a nation makes is more powerful or more consequential than investing in education.
That is why today, nearly 30% of our national budget is invested in education. This is as intentional as it is deliberate.
In just three years, our education budgetary allocation has grown by nearly 50%, from KSh500 billion in 2022 to KSh702 billion in the current financial year, one of the largest investments in our nation’s history.
We have successfully completed the transition to the Competency-Based Education and Training system, a reform measure designed to prepare our learners for the demands of the modern world. This year, the pioneer cohort joined Grade 10 in Senior School with an impressive 99% transition rate.
At the same time, we are investing heavily in learning infrastructure. Working closely with Members of Parliament, we have built more than 23,000 classrooms nationwide in just three years.
In addition, we have begun the construction of 1,600 modern laboratories to ensure that our schools are properly equipped, particularly in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Equally important and strategic is the strength of our teaching workforce. Over the past three years, we have recruited 100,000 teachers and, before the end of this year, we will hire an additional 16,000, fulfilling our commitment to close the teacher shortage of 116,000 teachers. This is the largest ever teacher recruitment drive in Kenya’s history.
In higher education, we have introduced the student-centred funding model, enabling students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access scholarships and loans covering up to 95% of their education costs.
We have increased university capitation from KSh45 billion to KSh82 billion, while funding for scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has risen from KSh17 billion to KSh41 billion, restoring stability in our public universities, many of which were on the verge of bankruptcy.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We may not know with certainty what the careers of the future will look like or what new industries will emerge in the years ahead. But what we do know is that the education we are building today is designed to prepare our learners for exactly that kind of future.
It is an education that nurtures curiosity, sparks creativity, encourages innovation, and builds the resilience and adaptability needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
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 seize the opportunities of tomorrow - to create, to lead, and to design the future rather than simply react to it.
As I conclude, allow me to reiterate that the success of any institution is not defined merely by policy pronouncements or academic results.
It will ultimately be judged by the opportunities we create, the enabling environment and infrastructure we build and, above all, by the character, discipline, and sense of responsibility we instil in those who pass through our institutions.
For 100 years, Kapsabet High School has faithfully nurtured young men of integrity, purpose, and ambition; young men who understand that excellence is not an accident, but the product of commitment, perseverance, and character.
Once again, I congratulate the entire Kapsabet High School family on this historic centenary milestone. May this great institution continue to inspire generations to strive to excel and to serve with honour and distinction. I thank you. ###