President William Ruto has made a light-hearted observation about Kenyans' love of politics while attending the Kenya Comprehensive Schools Heads Association (KECSHA) national annual general meeting in Mombasa County.
"In Kenya, wherever two or three people gather, they end up talking politics. We are very interesting as a nation," Ruto said. "The Bible says where two or more people gather, God is present, but Kenyans talk politics in those groups."
The remark came as the President met thousands of headteachers at the association's four-day conference at the Sheikh Zayed Children Welfare Centre in Mombasa.
The meeting, which began on Monday, November 9, brings together primary and junior school heads under the theme "Re-imagining the Comprehensive School of the Future."
Organisers expect about 15,000 heads of junior and primary comprehensive schools to attend.
Discussions are expected to feature a long-running row over junior school autonomy, with junior school teachers demanding separate principals and management structures.
Heads, led by chairman Fuad Ali, want primary and junior schools to operate under one administration, with a single head overseeing the entire comprehensive school.
They are also pushing for better career progression for primary school teachers and improved grading for school administrators.
The conference also features masterclasses on financial literacy, school health, foundational learning, parental engagement and education innovation.
Delegates are also examining how artificial intelligence is reshaping education.
The association was previously known as the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) before announcing a rebrand aligned with education reforms.
Ruto's quip comes as political temperatures rise across the country ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Education leaders are also grappling with a wave of school unrest since April, which has left at least 18 students dead, according to reports.
Secondary heads warned in June about the nation's readiness for the transition of 1.2 million Grade 9 learners.
Kenyans may talk politics wherever they gather, but for school heads, the most pressing conversation remains about autonomy, pay and quality learning.
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