Homa Bay: KUPPET Rejects Raila Odinga's Radical Proposal to Devolve Education Sector

• During the devolution conference in Homa Bay county, ODM leader Raila Odinga shared several proposals
• Some of the proposals by Raila have been rejected by stakeholders, including the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET)
• KUPPET secretary general Akelo Misori explained why counties should only be left with from Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE)

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Homa Bay - The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has strongly rejected Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga’s proposal to devolve the education sector to county governments.

Led by KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori, the union warned that the move would cripple the country’s education system.

What did Raila Odinga propose on education?

This comes a few days after the former prime minister, during the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay county, urged the executive and parliament arms of government to begin preparations to devolve the entire basic education sector, from Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) to secondary schools, to county governments.

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Speaking at Miyuga Mixed Secondary School in Karachuonyo, Akelo Misori emphasised that teachers across the country would resist attempts to hand over education management to county governments.

Why teachers opposed Raila Odinga's proposal

Misori said that counties are unfit to run schools, noting the poor state of ECDE centres with few teachers, inadequate classrooms, and weak infrastructure as proof that devolution would be misguided.

He said that ECDE is supposed to give children a proper foundation, but it has not been realised despite it being devolved more than a decade ago.

“The teachers of this country will not accept any attempt to devolve education because most essential services devolved to counties have collapsed. The ECDE was devolved to counties to give children a strong foundation, but more than a decade later, the objective has not been realised due to poor management,” Misori asserted.

He further argued that if Raila’s proposal is actualised, it will deepen inequalities in the education sector.

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Misori added that counties lack the capacity to effectively manage education, citing the collapse of other devolved services, including the health sector, which he said has been struggling and is riddled with strikes every time.

On his part, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu echoed Misori’s, noting that counties’ poor management of ECDE was proof that they cannot handle primary and secondary education.

He revealed that many centres lack proper quality assurance, making them incapable of delivering meaningful education.

He insisted that education must remain under the national government, arguing it is essential for stability and serves as the backbone of the country.

“If county governments have failed with ECDEs, what will happen if basic education is devolved?” Oyuu questioned.

Why did ODM MP criticise Raila Odinga?

In other news, Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka Wangaya opposed Raila's proposal on the management of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

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Aseka claimed governors were misleading his party leader on matters of NG-CDF.

Speaking in his constituency after commissioning a tuition block at Lwanda Dudi Secondary School, Aseka said it is frustrating to see Raila supporting governors who are eyeing NG-CDF funds.

He asked the former prime minister to focus on his statesmanship rather than poking holes in NG-CDF.

Source: TUKO.co.ke