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Raila Says Education in Crisis Under Ruto
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party leader Raila Odinga has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of failing to disburse crucial education funds to public schools.
Odinga’s criticism came in response to President Ruto’s New Year address, in which he touted his government’s increased investment in education. The opposition leader, however, dismissed these claims as “bold-faced lies,” particularly concerning the impending resumption of nationwide learning next week.
According to Odinga, the government has fallen significantly short of its education funding obligations. He cited figures showing a shortfall of Ksh.17.7 billion owed to secondary schools for the third term of the 2022/2023 financial year, leaving the fate of nearly 800,000 students uncertain.
The situation is equally bleak for the current financial year, with the Kenya Kwanza government reportedly disbursing only Ksh.3,327.87 per student – a mere 14% of the Ksh.22,244 allocated by the previous administration in 2018.
“It is not even clear whether the paltry 14% said to have been disbursed has actually reached schools,” Odinga stated, highlighting a disconnect between government pronouncements and on-the-ground realities.
He further challenged the government’s claims of increased education funding, emphasizing the Free Day Secondary Education program launched in 2008 and its established capitation per learner scheme.
The opposition leader’s concerns extend beyond mere funding shortfalls. He painted a grim picture of parents struggling with exorbitant school fees ranging from Ksh.40,000 to Ksh.90,000, while public school teachers grapple with low salaries, overcrowded classrooms, and a lack of resources.
Odinga attributed the education funding crisis to “corruption and deliberate and harmful political choices,” questioning the prioritization of projects like affordable housing over the future of Kenyan children.
He demanded the immediate release of the pending education funds and urged parents, teachers, and school boards of management to join forces in demanding full disbursement of allocated resources.
“We appeal to religious leaders and civil society organizations to take up the cause of our children, call out the Kenya Kwanza administration and force it to fund the future by paying school fees,” he declared.
Odinga also instructed his party members in parliament and county assemblies to prioritize education spending and take active steps to pressure the government into releasing public education funds before schools reopen next week.
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