---

This study explores the current status in Kenyan primary shools where managerial roles have increased due to the implementation of the Free Primary Education program. In particular, the study sought to examine the extra roles and duties that the head teachers are performing that have been created during the implementation of the FPE program; the ways in which the increased roles have affected the role of head teachers as instructional supervisors; the ways in which the increased roles have affected the academic performance of pupils in primary schools and the ways in which the head teachers can be helped to cope with the increased duties created in the implementation of FPE.The study suggests the need for the Ministry of Education to re-structure the head teachers´ managerial role in order to reinforce their instructional supervisory role. This could (to some extent) improve the quality of education in public primary schools.

---

Mary Maina is a lecturer at Marist International college, a constituent college of Catholic University of Eastern Africa. She is currently the Head of Humanities at the college.

---