Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has issued an ultimatum to President William Ruto's administration before school opening.
In a detailed statement dated Tuesday, January 2, the Azimio la Umoja leader directed the Kenya Kwanza administration to release full capitation.
Raila argued that the full capitation assigned to each student would ease the school fee burden on parents and guardians.
"The government must release all the monies owed to schools. It must release capitation at the approved rate of Ksh22,244 per child for the financial year 2023/ 2024," Raila demanded.
The Azimio Leader castigated the Kenya Kwanza administration for failing to meet the threshold in 2023. He indicated that the government disbursed Ksh64,421,850,160.01 to secondary schools for the third term in the 2022/2023 financial year against an initial set figure of Ksh82,088,723,744 for the 3,690,376 learners.
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According to Raila, the deficit of Ksh17,666,873,584 owed to the institutions leaving 794,231 students in limbo.
To compel Ruto's administration to support education, Raila urged unions and parent associations to unite and call out his administration.
He also directed the members of parliament to prioritise education reforms and hold the government accountable for the release of funds.
“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 said.
“I instruct our members of parliament and county assemblies to prioritize basic and higher education spending. Our legislators must embark on active steps to force the government to release public education funding, both at the Primary and secondary levels before schools resume. Money must reach schools ahead of Monday.”
