Murkomen to host key forum to address academic performance in Elgeyo Marakwet

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen will on Friday host the inaugural Elgeyo-Marakwet Elimu Conference, a forum aimed at addressing declining academic performance in the county and strengthening collaboration among education stakeholders.

The one-day conference, to be held at Lorna Kiplagat Academy, will also be attended by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba.

Organisers say the forum will focus on improving education standards in the county and sensitising stakeholders on the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

About 2,500 participants are expected to attend the conference, including school principals, student representatives, academics, education administrators, teacher union officials and professionals from across the county.

The meeting has been organised under the auspices of the OKM Foundation and is the first conference of its kind in Elgeyo-Marakwet.

Murkomen said parts of the county, particularly in the Kerio Valley, are still recovering from years of banditry, which disrupted schooling and contributed to declining education outcomes.

According to the CS, other challenges affecting education in the county include high teacher–student ratios, inadequate infrastructure such as science laboratories, and low transition rates to senior secondary school and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions.

He said the conference aims to bring together key stakeholders to discuss practical measures that can help improve education outcomes in the county.

The OKM Foundation, established in 2023, runs scholarship programmes for about 200 students annually and supports mentorship and talent development initiatives, including sports tournaments in the North Rift region.

Education experts and officials from the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission are expected to make presentations during the conference.

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse will also hold a session to sensitise participants on alcohol and substance abuse among young people.

The conference is themed “Collaborative Education for Sustainable Student Success.” Organisers say the theme highlights the role of partnerships between schools, government, parents and other institutions in improving learning outcomes and supporting students’ long-term development.

Murkomen said the initiative also aligns with the government’s efforts to consolidate peace in Elgeyo-Marakwet County and the wider Kerio Valley region by expanding education opportunities for young people.