“We won’t manage Edu’ through lies.” Odinga pokes holes in Ruto’s new year speech.
Summary:
The opposition chief Raila Amolo Odinga has poked holes in Ruto’s new years speech addressed to the nation.
In a statement to the press, Tinga noted that “Hon. William Ruto openly lied to parents, teachers and the children of Kenya that his administration had increased allocations to the education sector and enhanced capitation for all learners.”
Learnings Resumes On Monday:
Odinga noted that learning will resume on Monday, in both primary and secondary schools to what he described as “a very different reality”.
According to Odinga t𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗶𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.
He said the government’s on its own data indicated that the country had 3,690,376 learners who required Ksh82, 088,723,744 in funding.
However, the government reportedly approved only Ksh. 64,421,865,698.
𝗢𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁, Raila said, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗞𝘀𝗵. 𝟲𝟰,𝟰𝟮𝟭,𝟴𝟱𝟬,𝟭𝟲𝟬.𝟬𝟭 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀, which left 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟳,𝟲𝟲𝟲,𝟴𝟳𝟯,𝟱𝟴𝟰. “𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝟳𝟵𝟰,𝟮𝟯𝟭 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.” He said.
In the Financial Year 2022/2023, Odinga revealed that the Ruto led administration disbursed only Ksh.17, 339.00 instead of Ksh. 22,244 per child.
“Ruto owes each child on this programme some Ksh.4, 905.00. The total money owed to schools from the Financial Year 2022/2023 is Ksh. 18,101,294,280.”
Only 14 percent of Required emotional disbursed in 2023:
Odinga continued to say that in the 2023/2024 Financial Year, the Dr Ruto’s administration disbursed only Ksh3, 327.87 per child instead of Ksh.22, 244, representing a mere 14 per cent of the required amount.
According to Raila’s data, Mr Ruto owes each child some Ksh.18, 916, 13 or 85 per cent of what is needed.
“Ruto owes secondary schools a total of Ksh 69,807,632,165. It is not even clear whether the paltry 14 per cent said to have been disbursed has actually been discharged. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱.”
Tuto lies on enhanced funding in Edu’ sector:
Raila disclosed that it isn’t true that the Kenya Kwanza administration has enhanced any funding for free education.
To ensure that every Kenyan child has a right to access free and compulsory basic education and that all students in secondary school are funded to complete their basic education, Raila said, the government of Kenya began the Free Day Secondary Education programme in 2008, with the granting of capitation per learner.
In 2008, the rate per learner was Kshs. 10,625. This, Raila disclosed, was increased to Kshs. 12,870 in 2015 and then to Kshs. 22,244 in 2018. Public secondary schools were also prohibited from charging tuition fees. “Ruto has added noting to this limit.”
Struggling Parents with Ruto’s lies
Odinga noted that that a𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 said to be 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗞𝘀𝗵 𝟰𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝘀𝗵 𝟵𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.
At the same time, Odinga claimed that head teachers are struggling to meet the basic resourcing needs of their schools.
“𝗦𝗼, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗞𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲? 𝗜𝗳 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 (𝗡𝗛𝗜𝗙 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗳𝘆𝗮) 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲? 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀? 𝗜𝘀 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗞𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀?” Raila questioned.
He noted that failure to release full capitation to all schools is effecting learning differently across the country.
Poor school can’t survive on lies
Odinga revealed that “w𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁.”
Denial of full capitation is therefore eroding fair and equitable access to education which in the fullness of time will result in disparity among regions.”
Odinga cited underfunded education system, low pay, overcrowded classes and lack of resources for special education and support staff is stealing the future of children and communities at a time government officials are wallowing in luxurious living, unnecessary globetrotting and showing off millions of bundles of cash at public events.
He said, t𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.
“𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮 𝗞𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀.”
Odinga questioned how does a government put money on so-called affordable housing but refused to finance the education of our children?
“𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮’𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻.”
Odinga’s verdict on Ruto’s lies
The government must release all the monies owed to schools. It must also release capitation at the approved rate of Ksh22, 244 per child for the financial year 2023/2024.
In the absence of strong unions to stand up for our schools, we urge all Parents Teachers Associations and school Boards of Management across the country to rise to the occasion and demand full end equitable sharing of education funding. We will support such demands.
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.
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.
