Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro during a prize giving day at Kiaguthu Boys High School in Murang'a County on Tuesday July 29. Photo: Ndindi Nyoro Facebook.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has slammed Kenya Kwanza over its priority in budget, in what he termed as misplaced priorities, and accusing President William Ruto led administration for neglecting the education sector and allocating money unnecessarily and for political convenience.
Speaking on Tuesday during a prize giving day at Kiaguthu Boys High School in Murang’a County, Nyoro called out the National Treasury and the Executive for the currently witnessed delay in disbursement of capitation, which has led to many public schools closing early.
“The government is trying to come and absolve themselves that they support free education. What we are telling you is don’t tell us, just send the money,” Nyoro demanded.
Nyoro expressed his concern over the callous way the administration is handling education despite being a critical sector, with the budget not reflecting the critical importance and reality of the education sector.
According to him, the government is spending cash every weekend on empowerment drives, what he described as ‘political management’, as schools struggle with inflation and cost of running learning activities.
The former close ally of President William Ruto accused the government for undermining public confidence in free education, by issuing contradicting remarks, which he said leaders are gambling with the future of learners.
He called on government to reduce the allocations for renovations, confidential funds and direct it to school capitation.
“Remove the allocations from those many areas like these renovations, like the confidential fund. Remove the money for political management that we are seeing people spend every weekend direct that money to capitation. It is appalling to see people in the same government giving different statements on the same topic. Even if it’s a lie, you should have come together to at least harmonize the lie,” he further stated.
Nyoro called on government to release all the arrears owed to schools, as the delay has crippled learning activities in schools, leaving heads of schools in tight rope, further cautioning that the situation being witnessed will live students and parents in dire situation.
He said the government should not blame any institution for its failures, as policy decision and budget making sticks with the Executive.
“The government cannot shift the blame to any other institution; it is the one that makes policy and budgets. The buck stops with the executive,” Nyoro added.
His remarks come as CS Treasury and Education have been giving contradicting remarks on the state of free education in the country. Despite Ruto’s assurance, education stakeholders have demanded clarity on stand of government on free education.
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