In a statement shared on his Facebook account, Thuku responded to arguments suggesting that top national schools, particularly those located in Kiambu County, primarily belong to local residents.
Thuku referenced the family of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, noting that one of Gachagua’s sons attended Alliance High School despite the family’s home being in Mathira, Nyeri County.
He acknowledged that the child may not have completed primary education in Mathira but emphasized that the family’s permanent home is clearly outside Kiambu.
According to Thuku, this example raises critical questions about how claims of ownership over national schools are defined and applied.
He argued that if Alliance is described as “our school,” clarity is needed on whether this refers strictly to residents of Kiambu County, encompassing all communities living there, or to a wider ethnic identity that spans multiple counties.
Thuku further observed that during the same admission period in which Gachagua’s son was admitted, hundreds of academically qualified students from Kiambu District were likely denied placement at Alliance.
This, he said, illustrates that admission to national schools has never been determined solely by county of residence.
Thuku’s remarks come against the backdrop of renewed public debate sparked by Gachagua, who questioned why students from other regions are admitted to prestigious schools in the Mt Kenya region while some local students miss out.
By citing Gachagua’s own family experience, Thuku sought to highlight what he views as inconsistencies in arguments favoring strict regional priority.
He stressed that national schools were established to serve the entire country and promote diversity, not to cater exclusively to specific counties or communities.
As discussions continue, his comments have added momentum to broader conversations on fairness, equity, and national cohesion within Kenya’s student placement system.