CS John Mbadi at God Oloo Secondary school in Suba South on Friday, July 25. Photo: John Mbadi X.
zNational Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has affirmed his remarks on government unbale to sustain free education, for not being able to fund full free primary and secondary education.
Mbadi said that the government budget allocation has made it difficult to attain full capitation for every learner, remarks which has attracted a lot of criticism from leaders to education stakeholders who have faulted the move to cut capitation.
Appearing before National Assembly on Thursday, Mbadi said that the government was unable to sustain the financial burden that comes with free education, an indicator that parents should prepare for the return of school fees.
Clearing and making clarity of his controversial remarks, he maintained the crucial role of education and a key government priority. however, he said that the current financial status of the government cannot achieve full capitation for every learner.
Speaking at a thanksgiving Ceremony in Homabay County on Friday, Mbadi called out leaders for ignoring the call despite understanding the actual reality they are full informed of. He faulted the narrative that former president Mwai Kibaki introduced free primary and secondary education.
According to him, free secondary education was sustained by former president Uhuru Kenyatta, which has become difficult for Kenya Kwanza to sustain.
I was wondering, when MPs were asking me why I’ve not released Ksh.22,000 per student. I asked them where do I get that money? It is them who passed the budget. In fact, the latest budget, even the capitation we had put, Parliament reduced it further. So, once a budget has been allocated, where do I get money to pay the full Ksh.22,000?” Mbadi questioned.
Mbadi said that the government had disbursed full capitation for term one and two, amounting to KSh 17,000, further adding that the budget was allocated but not enough to make it KSh 22,000 that had been set for every learner.
“But let me tell you this, the government disburses the whole amount allocated in the budget, but still it is not enough. So, the only thing I did was to confirm that, Yes, we have allocated so much budget and we’re giving it in full, but it is not enough to give every child in Kenya Ksh.22,000,” he stated.
His remarks were received harshly with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro accusing the government to frustrate the education sector adding that free education is not negotiable but they demand full actualization, sentiments also echoed by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
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