Speaking on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association’s National Annual General Meeting in Mombasa, Joho argued that schools must evaluate learners based on their innate abilities rather than their families’ financial standing.
Reflecting on his own academic journey, the Cabinet Secretary recalled finishing secondary school with a D grade, insisting that the score never reflected his true intellect or potential.
“Because growing up, mimi mwenyewe, your Excellency, nilitoka kidato cha nne kama mwanafunzi wa D. Kama mwanafunzi wa D. Na sio ati nilikuwa mpumbavu. Hata wewe ukininiangalia unajua mimi nilikuwa mwerevu. Hata ukitathmini unaniona hapa unajua huyu ni mjanja,” Joho said.
During his address, Joho welcomed the concept of Usawa, which he connected to equitable development and fair treatment for all citizens. He maintained that every child deserves an equal shot at academic success regardless of their parents’ economic background, noting that unequal access to resources directly shapes exam outcomes.
Joho expressed confidence that his secondary school results would have looked dramatically different under an education framework designed to measure merit over household wealth.
“If I grew up at the time of President William Ruto, where a student ama mwanafunzi hapimwi kwa mfuko wake ama mfuko wa mama yake na babake, ni akili yake, I would definitely be an A student,” he said.
His remarks align with the government’s broader push to expand education funding, roll out the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), and hire additional teachers to bridge resource gaps across public schools.
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