The Commission on Administrative Justice in Kenya has raised alarms over the Sh30 fee charged for students and parents wishing to receive their senior secondary school placement results through SMS. This fee has been labeled as excessive, especially considering the financial challenges faced by many families in the region, threatening equal access to educational opportunities for students transitioning to Grade 10. The Ombudsman emphasized that such financial barriers could disproportionately affect lower-income households, thereby warranting immediate attention from the government's education officials.

In a letter sent to Principal Secretary Julius Bitok from the State Department for Basic Education, the Ombudsman urged the need for negotiations with mobile service providers to lower the cost of SMS result access. While an online portal exists as an alternative for accessing these results, the Commission pointed out that there has been insufficient communication from the Ministry of Education regarding its use. This gap has led to confusion and additional costs for families who may not be aware of the online option, reinforcing the necessity for an improved information dissemination strategy.

The Commission has called on the education authorities to implement mechanisms that would enhance access to placement results, thus ensuring that no child is left behind due to financial constraints. Additionally, the Ombudsman has urged the government to create a clearer policy framework to guide efforts in making educational resources more equitable and accessible to all students, regardless of their economic background.