Kithure Kindiki Differs with John Mbadi on Free Education Budget Cuts: "We Can't Reverse Gains"
- The admission by National Treasury CS John Mbadi that the budget can no longer sustain the education subsidy at the secondary level has saddened many
- He suggested to a National Assembly committee that soon the burden would be shared with parents, as the funding is cut
- Deputy President Kithure Kindiki reacted, observing that such a move would be retrogressive, a statement that might alleviate the concerns of the public
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has weighed in on the raging debate around the government funding for free secondary education.
Source: Twitter
Kindiki said the idea of decimating funding for basic education cannot be tolerated, considering the progress Kenya has made over the years.
He sought to alleviate the concerns that the Exchequer could soon defund free secondary education behind the excuse of a strained budget.
"Kenya cannot afford to roll back the impressive gains our country has made since 2003 to ensure free and compulsory basic education," Kindiki said in a Facebook update Saturday, July 26.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
The deputy president's statement is a stark dissent from National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who revealed to the country that the budget as it is now can no longer cover the fees subsidy for senior secondary school learners.
Why free education might not be funded fully
While appearing before the National Assembly's departmental committee on education, Mbadi alluded to the sharing of the burden between the government and the Kenyan parents and guardians.
He told the lawmakers that the bulging priorities for the government had occasioned the slashing of the budget for free education to free money to other critical areas.
As such, the secondary school capitation would be cut from KSh 22,244 to KSh 16,900 per capita, a KSh 5,344 deficit there for parents to fill.
Mbadi promised that the rates would be reviewed should the economy perform in the near future.
Source: Twitter
What Kindiki promised Kenyans on free education
The deputy president strongly declared that the government cannot interfere with basic education.
He appreciated that former president, the late Mwai Kibaki, built the foundation for free primary and secondary education, with his successor, Uhuru Kenyatta, enhancing it to accommodate the increasing enrollments across the years.
According to Kindiki, the education model benefited many who came from poor households, and hence, scrapping it would be an unnecessary evil.
Instead, the government would make adjustments to accommodate the question of increasing enrollments against a static budget, he promised.
"I want to state here that the Kenya Kwanza Administration will go out of its way to make sure we do not roll back the gains our country has made in assuring free and compulsory primary education, which also includes secondary education. There is work that Kibaki and Uhuru did. This government will continue with that work and make it even better. Please ignore the naysayers. We cannot afford in this time in history to roll back the tremendous progress that our nation has made to make education accessible and affordable, especially at the primary and secondary levels. We cannot roll back those gains, and I want to assure you we will make all the necessary interventions to make sure that our education remains affordable, accessible, relevant, and of high quality," he added.
Read also
Moses Wetang'ula goes after Gachagua for asking Kenyans abroad to hold remittances to Kenya
What Ndindi Nyoro said about scrapping education subsidy
At the same time, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro warned that any attempt to interfere with the funding of basic education would not be welcomed.
He vowed to use his legislative power to challenge such a move.
The MP wondered why the National Treasury was lamenting about a cash crunch, yet billions are being expended on non-essential projects such as the constant renovation of the Nairobi State House.
Similar concerns were raised by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, who questioned the rationale of abolishing free basic education when the government is splashing money in harambees and empowerment programmes.
Amisi argued that the monies being donated to different groups across the country are sufficient to fund free education if consolidated in one basket.
The youthful lawmaker challenged the president to intervene and salvage the situation before it escalates into a nationwide crisis.
University Academic Staff Union (UASU) Secretary General Constatine Wasonga also questioned the government's priorities in revenue allocation.
He vowed to lead his members in nationwide protests if the government fails to prioritise education and payment of lecturers' salaries.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
