“A Colonial Mentality”- Esther Passaris Vows To Ban School Uniforms In Kenya
img_tag = ("Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has just declared war on every school uniform shop in Kenya, calling for a complete ban on what millions of Kenyan parents see as their biggest back-to-school expense nightmare.
The outspoken politician sparked fierce debate yesterday when she labeled mandatory school uniforms as an expensive relic of "British mentality" that needs to be scrapped immediately. Passaris argues that forcing children to wear specific uniforms creates unnecessary financial burden on families already struggling with the cost of education. Her proposal targets both public and private schools across the country.
The uniform debate hits different when you're a Kenyan parent counting coins at the end of January. Ask any mama in Kawangware or Kibera what keeps them awake at night before schools reopen, and school uniforms will top that list. A complete primary school uniform set costs between Ksh 3,000 to Ksh 8,000, while secondary school uniforms can push Ksh 15,000 or more. That's rent money for many families, or three months of matatu fare to work.
Passaris believes Kenya's education system still carries too much colonial baggage, pointing out that countries like the United States have thrived without mandatory uniforms. She argues that allowing children to wear regular clothes would immediately reduce the cost of education and remove one major barrier keeping kids out of school. The representative also questions why Kenya continues following British traditions that Britain itself has moved away from in many schools.
But the proposal faces massive resistance from education stakeholders who argue uniforms create equality in schools and reduce peer pressure based on clothing brands. School administrators worry about how they would manage discipline and school identity without uniforms. Many teachers also point out that uniforms help them quickly identify their students during school trips or emergencies, something crucial in crowded places like Nairobi CBD or during county school competitions.
Parents across Kenya remain split on the issue, with those in informal settlements largely supporting Passaris while middle-class families worry about losing the prestige and discipline that uniforms represent. Some suggest a middle ground where schools could allow more affordable, generic clothing options instead of expensive, school-specific uniforms that can only be bought from particular suppliers.
The debate now moves to Parliament where education committees will have to weigh the financial relief for families against decades of school tradition. Passaris has promised to table a formal bill next month, but the question remains: are Kenyans ready to see their children head to school in regular clothes, or is the school uniform too deeply rooted in our education DNA to disappear?