
National Treasury CS John Mbadi at a past Cabinet meeting. Photo: John Mbadi X.
Days after making controversial remarks while appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee, National Treasury John Mbadi has said that he was misquoted on government failing to sustain free education.
Mbadi now claims that his remarks were directed to Parliament not the public claiming of being misquoted, as he was making an appeal to Members of Parliament (MPs), to increase funding in education, and not a warning to parents of a glaring return of school fees.
“I was speaking to legislators. I was speaking to members of Parliament who approve the budget. I told them we must enhance the budget for capitation so that every child receives 22,000 shillings. What we have in the budget today is less than 22,000,” Mbadi stated.
Speaking in Nyatike, Mbadi told parents to panic, as he was raising a fiscal challenge in government, stating that he is not in the business of lying but to call on effective budgeting, which will ensure every child is supported according to the policy.
“We must budget so that every child is supported as the policy says. If you want me to lie to Kenyans, I am not ready to lie to Kenyans,” he added.
Mbadi’s remark comes after government reduced capitation from KSh 22,000 to KSh 17,000 yearly, which education stakeholders deemed not enough, and could cripple learning activities in schools across the country.
According to him, the funding gap is not a new issue, but a systematic challenge t Kenya Kwanza administration inherited from former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
He called upon lawmakers to work closely with National Treasury. to ensure that schools receive enough money to run and implement learning activities.
Mbadi says the funding gap is not a new issue, attributing it to systemic challenges that predate the current administration.
“This has been happening from the time of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. We don’t want schools to accumulate debts the same way universities have been accumulating debts. We must work with Parliament to make sure that we have enough money to run our schools,” he further said.
Mbadi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustain free education, and not planning to shift the burden to parents, as the government will make sure to avail the money.
“Don’t create panic among parents. Parents are not supposed to pay fees, and we are not going to allow parents to pay fees. We will make money available to support them. That is what I said,” he said.
CS Mbadi received criticism, after appearing before National Committee, when he said the current financial burden in the education can no longer be sustained by the government, insinuating of a future that parents will be forced to carry the burden.
However, President William Ruto on Sunday emphasized that the government will fund free education, ensuring every child has access to and quality education, as according to him it is the greatest gift a society can give to its young populace.
“I assure you that the access and quality of education cannot be compromised,” Ruto affirmed.