DNK International By Our Reporter,Mandera
Learner enrolment in Mandera County has surged dramatically following the introduction of free education in all public schools.
This is a bold policy that has set the county apart from the rest of the country.
According to county education officials, enrolment has risen by more than 70 per cent over the past three years under the Elimu kwa Wote initiative, launched by Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif’s administration.
The programme abolished school fees in all public primary and secondary schools, easing the burden on parents in one of Kenya’s most drought prone regions.
Despite persistent drought and economic hardship, schools across Mandera are now reporting attendance levels of up to 90 per cent, a sharp turnaround that local leaders attribute to the removal of fees and sustained county support for learning materials and school feeding programmes.
Its impact has also been felt at the post secondary level, with students in colleges paying half of their school fees under county subsidies, further expanding access to education and skills training.
The free education programme was a key campaign pledge by Governor Khalif during the 2022 General Election, and its implementation has become a flagship achievement of his administration.
County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and Human Capital Development, Bashir Ibrahim Alio, says the policy is anchored on the belief that education is the strongest investment in the county’s future.
As Mandera celebrates rising enrolment and improved school attendance, the initiative has sparked a wider national debate: why is Mandera the only county offering zero school fees while the other 46 counties have not followed suit?
The question now is whether Mandera’s model could inspire similar interventions elsewhere or whether unique local priorities and political will are the decisive factors.
What are your views on Mandera’s free education policy? Should other counties adopt the same approach?
[DNK-International@January 21,2026]
