Ri’Ooga mixed Secondary School teacher takes students through an academic clinic. [Stanley Ongwae, Standard]
A government proposal to remove Mathematics as a mandatory subject in senior secondary school has sparked backlash online, with Kenyans expressing outrage on social media.
Under the proposed curriculum, students will still be required to take four core subjects: English or Kenya Sign Language, Kiswahili, Physical Education, and Community Service Learning.
Beyond these, they will choose three additional subjects from a pool of 38 electives.
The proposal has drawn criticism from legal and political figures, and the public.
Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi voiced his displeasure, sarcastically questioning how students would manage basic calculations in daily life.
What a stupid decision! How will they know how many chapatis they have eaten in a week? pic.twitter.com/kPKIa6kDAI
— Nelson Havi (@NelsonHavi) March 14, 2025
Lawyer Makau Mutua called it a violation of fundamental rights.
“Denying our children the opportunity to learn Maths under CBC is a violation of fundamental human rights. A country that doesn’t know math can’t go anywhere,” he wrote.
Nelson Amenya, a whistleblower known for exposing corruption, linked Mathematics to economic growth. “Developing economies rely on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) professionals. No wonder we can’t even build a simple airport terminal without outsourcing to a corrupt Indian company.”
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino suggested the change was a ploy to keep citizens financially uninformed.
“Mathematics is no longer compulsory. They don’t want us to know the taxes they are stealing. Why kill education?” he posed.
Former Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera called the proposal reckless, urging policymakers to reconsider. “How can we make mathematics optional while global leaders like China and Japan mandate it throughout schooling? Their dominance in tech, manufacturing, robotics, and engineering is fueled by STEM. We must align reforms with global education standards while nurturing diverse talents,” he said.
Advocate Willis Otieno echoed similar concerns, noting the importance of Mathematics in developing essential skills.
“Mathematics fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills, which are crucial in many fields. These individuals are ruining our education system,” he said.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
Lawyer Donald Kipkorir called the decision a deliberate attempt to weaken intellectual capacity. “Mathematics is the algorithm of knowledge. By making it optional, someone wants to turn Kenya into a nation of illiterates—easily manipulated and misled,” he wrote.
However, some netizens have welcomed the proposal.
The Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) argued that Mathematics has unnecessarily intimidated students for years.
“Brilliant move to make Mathematics an optional subject in schools. It’s one reason many people consider themselves ‘uneducated,’ yet there’s nothing uniquely essential about it except for specialists in certain fields,” COFEK stated.
The organisation also questioned the need for professionals like lawyers to excel in Mathematics.
“Why would a good lawyer like Nelson Havi or Danstan Omari need an A or E in Maths? They can simply employ accountants to count their billions!” the statement read in part.
