Many say school heads are demanding illegal payments of between Ksh100,000 and Ksh150,000 to secure admission slots for learners.
The claims have caused anger, fear, and confusion as reporting dates move closer.
Several parents report travelling from one school to another seeking help, only to be turned away at school gates. Others say they are promised phone calls that never come.
Some parents claim they are not even allowed to speak to school administrators to explain their cases. The situation has left families feeling helpless and ignored.
The problem has become worse for parents whose children were placed in schools far from home.
In some cases, learners were assigned to day schools located in distant counties, making daily travel impossible.
A Nairobi parent said their child was placed in a school in Siaya County, an area unfamiliar to the family, leaving them unsure about safety, accommodation, and transport.
Another parent shared frustration after visiting a top national school in Nairobi several times without success.
According to the parent, security guards repeatedly blocked entry, and staff only advised them to wait for communication.
The lack of clear guidance has increased stress among families already struggling with school fees and cost of living.
More worrying are claims that some school officials are using the placement crisis to demand bribes.
Parents allege that intermediaries openly ask for large sums of money to “consider” admission requests.
Many families say they only prepared money for official school fees and cannot afford illegal demands.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has acknowledged the complaints and announced action.
The Ministry of Education opened a second revision phase for Grade 10 placement from January 6 to January 9, 2026.
The move followed widespread protests from parents and education stakeholders over the first placement exercise.
Ogamba explained that only parents with genuine and verifiable reasons will be considered during the review. The Ministry aims to ensure fairness while also making proper use of available school spaces.
He also confirmed that the first revision ended on December 29, 2025, and joining instructions were uploaded to the placement portal on December 30.
Learners are expected to report to their assigned senior schools from January 12. Parents are now calling on the Ministry to investigate bribery claims, punish corrupt school officials, and protect equal access to education for all children, regardless of family income.