Finally, a crisis meeting between the Treasury and the ministry of Education to avert a teachers’ strike bore fruit. This was after the Treasury agreed to release Sh7 billion for the free education programme.
Teachers had issued a seven-day strike ultimatum to the Government, which was to start today.
Publishers and booksellers association had also said they will join in the strike to demand for the release of the cash. Apparently, the suppliers owe the Government about Sh4 billion.
As these revelations come into the limelight, so many questions keep on running in the minds of Kenyans over the free primary education programme implementation. During President Kibaki’s first term in office, free education was the best gift he ever gave to Kenyan pupils and students. This was noble project that even saw donors come calling to support.
However, as much as I would like to toast to the President for this, it is so unfortunate that the project has been marred with so many controversies. First, the level of corruption: So much money was lost after top officials in the Education ministry colluded with school heads to swindle the Government of the money. This forced donors to pull out their support for the programme and at some point to reclaim their money. The Government promised to look into the matter and ensure the culprits are brought to book. The matter has since gone underground and we are yet to hear anything about it.
More importance
After donors pulled out, the Government moved on and promised to oversee full implementation of the project.
However, what we are seeing now is different from the pledge. Teachers are always complaining of delayed funds and now billions of it remain unpaid. Head teachers say the situation had forced them to run schools on their pocket monies until yesterday. They said many school programmes had been halted due to lack of funds, learning materials and supplies.
Education is not one of the sectors of economy that should be played around with. The Government should invest so much in it.
{Nixon Kanali, Nairobi}
One of the most difficult things in Kenya today is taking a child through the education system, a system the Government seems to have left to head teachers to do as they wish.
The difficulty arises from the payment of exorbitant fees and levies that schools come up with in the name of PTA projects. This is how teachers vent their frustrations on parents as a result of Government’s failure to supplement what parents pay through subsidies.
However, a remark by Finance minister that somebody forgot to include money for schools in the Budget proposal was unfortunate.
Even though the government finally disbursed some money to schools, it should honour its side of the bargain expeditiously to avoid costly confrontations.
{Alexander Chagema, Kakamega}
Why does the Government await until the eleventh minute to act? Did it have to put teachers and learners in such problems until teachers had to threaten to close schools? Did it have to engage stakeholders in weeks of baseless debates over availability of the funds?
The delay in the release of these funds had almost ruined education in our public schools since the teachers with the support of parents had threatened to strike and send pupils home.
The ministry of Finance did well to release the funds but it could have done better. Can’t it get its priorities right and release the funds in good time? How about releasing funds during school holidays so that by the time they reopen for new terms all is well?
Finally, all stakeholders should unite in offer quality basic education to our children.
{Kenneth Irungu, Maseno}
President Kibaki did well to introduce the free and compulsory basic education programme, ten years ago. So far, the programme has yielded results save for few challenges. It is evident the gains that have been made over the years through the programme are immense and beneficial to the young population of the country.
The next Head of State now must take up this gigantic role and ensure it is accomplished as desired.
{Rehema Khadija, Mombasa
MPs shouldn’t bow to PSV owners’ demands
Dickson Mbugua of the Matatu Owners Association gave us reasons why PSV operators do not want the new traffic amendments in a TV talkshow on Sunday.
Among the various reasons he gave are abolition of the traffic police department, widespread corruption, hefty fines and lack of civic education didn’t. I call this the of fear of the unknown.
It was very clear Mr Mbugua’s mindset is anchored on a very corrupt and rotten society. By saying that police officers would abandon other duties and come to man the roads so that they could be bribed is a clear indication that for Mbugua, the matatu industry is founded on corruption and thus should exempted from the rule of law. They would prefer selected officers (traffic police) who they can deal with.
It didn’t stop there, he went on and revealed that operators have been hunting for friendly MPs and mover of the Motion (Jakoyo Midiwo) so that they can remove the offending clauses.
Matatu operators are the most feared lot on our roads. They are a perfect example of impunity given the way they overlap, knock down pedestrians or hike fares arbitrarily and I can bet they won’t take anything aimed at changing their operation methods.
When the late Cabinet minister John Michuki introduced the famous Michuki Rules in 2004, these were the same people who called for a strike, but due to Michuki’s firmness and the support of the public, Mbugua and Simon Kimutai of TLB gave in and did what was required of them.
There was a drastic reduction of road accidents on Kenyan roads. However due lenient court fines, the matatu men went back to their old ways and now are even worse.
The proposed law is supposed to act as a deterrent to the heinous act that Mbugua’s crew commit in our roads.
During the Madaraka Day celebration, President Kibaki assured Kenyans that the Government would enact a law to curb road accidents. This was very welcome.
MPs should know Kenyans want stiffer traffic laws to instill discipline and curb accidents.
{Simon Wanyoike, Nairobi}
Give AA residents clean drinking water
There has been acute shortage of safe drinking water in Pipeline Estate (AA area) of Embakasi since the start of building of the bypass joining Mombasa Road from Ruiru.
There were claims the problem was occasioned by a broken water pipe at the new Uchumi Supermarket building near the roundabout of North Airport and Outering roads. The pipe was repaired but the water problem is yet to be fixed.
The situation is so severe that unscrupulous people have taken advantage to sell water from suspect sources.
Nairobi Water and Sewarage Company should intervene to save lives of residents.
{James N Wanzala, Nairobi}
Highway insecure for city pedestrians
Crossing Nairobi’s University Way is such a risky, tedious and time consuming task.
Given the busy nature of the six-lane highway, characterised by speeding vehicles, rushing students and other pedestrians, there is need for well marked pedestrians crossing at the junction around Central Police and Anniversary Towers.
Otherwise, University of Nairobi students frequenting the area could be sitting on a time bomb.
The City Council of Nairobi or the contractor who worked on the road should do the necessary to ensure pedestrians’ safety on this road.
{Joackim Bwana, Nairobi}
Poll’s IEBC acid test
The forthcoming elections will be a true acid test for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission especially after its obsolete predecessor ECK lost the confidence of the Kenyan voter.
The conduct of IEBC in the elections will make or break the reputation of Kenya to the world in as far as elections are concerned. It is time we broke the vicious circle of election violence and vote rigging that have characterised our polls.
{Marcus Kipng’etich, Eldoret}
Let’s vote wisely
For the umpteenth time I advise Kenyan voters to ignore empty rhetorics from leaders this election campaign period.
This must be taken seriously given soon we are going to hold general elections — the first and biggest under the new Constitution.
Kenyans must be advised to beware of the big mouths of our politicians.
{Githuku Mungai, Nairobi}
