Free laptops project comes to naught

The unfulfilled promise to give Standard One pupils laptops is perhaps among the most outstanding Jubilee administration failures.

The signature pre-election pledge has been frustrated by procurement hiccups and protracted court battles that prompted President Uhuru Kenyatta to caution that the Government would no longer do business with firms that undermined its projects to settle tender scores.

But despite the challenges the Jubilee government is facing, it has said it is determined to fulfill its pledge to provide free laptops for all schools, with the Treasury allocating Sh17.6 billion in the current budget.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said the funding would not only help in acquiring laptops but other ICT devices, which will help students become e-compliant.

Mr Rotich expressed confidence that the funding would ensure that the Government's pledge is honoured.

"I am confident Mr Speaker that this time around, this key Jubilee government project will finally take off," he had stated earlier.

Already, the digital content for all subjects has already been developed in readiness for laptop roll-out.

However, that is not the only unmet pledge.

The Jubilee brigade had promised Kenyans that if elected, they would increase the number of schools in disadvantaged areas and restrict class sizes to a maximum of 40.

But to date, this promise is yet to be fulfilled given that there are some areas that pupils are forced to learn under trees with inadequate teachers.

The Jubilee coalition had also promised to provide free milk for every primary school-going child, which was to be sourced from county-based dairy farmer Saccos.

In addition, it was to raise the transition rate from primary to secondary to 90 per cent while improving transition rates from secondary to tertiary and university levels.

The National Assembly's Education Committee Chairperson Sabina Chege maintained that the Jubilee administration had fulfilled its promises in the education sector.

"School milk was not part of the plan but the rest is budgeted for and implementation has started," said Ms Chege.