Ngui, Anne Mueke2016-04-052016-04-052015-07http://erepository.mku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/2129The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing girls’ drop out in public boarding and day secondary schools in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County. The study was guided by four objectives which were; to examine the extent to which socio-economic factors influence girls’ drop out, to establish the influence of individual factors on girls’ dropout rate, to establish the influence of school factors on girls’ dropout rate and to determine the influence of gender policy implementation on girls’ dropout rate. In literature review the study focused on the factors influencing girls’ dropout in public boarding and day secondary schools and reviewed the gap under the following sub themes: overview of girls’ dropout, influence of socio-economic factors, family background and girls dropout, economic status of the family, cultural status, individual factors, gender and girls’ dropout, aspiration and girls’ dropout, age and girls’ dropout, school based factors, sanitation, school levies, teaching learning resources, peer influence and gender policy implementation. The study adopted a relevant conceptual framework; which guided the researcher in determining the variables. The study employed descriptive design method using focus group discussion and questionnaires as the main research instruments. The study targeted all the 20 public secondary schools in the Sub-County with a total population of 600 teachers, 7,213 students and the head teachers were sampled in the study. One teacher from every school was also selected (in charge of guidance and counselling). The form fours were the most respondents because they had been in school for long. Data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages and presented in tables and conclusions drawnenEducationProject