Why education in Kenya must be free at all levels – Onyonka

 

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka 

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka now says that Education in Kenya must be free at all levels.

Speaking on Tuesday, Onyonka said the amount of money allocated to the Education ministry is enough to facilitate free education.

According to the Senator, the education ministry's budget is what the third President Mwai Kibaki used as his entire budget to run the country in the first two years of his election into the country's top job.

The Senator questioned why the money that ran a whole country a few years ago could not run the entire Ministry of Education and offer free education.

He claimed that these monies in most instances end up in people's pockets.

"University education, primary school education, and secondary school education in Kenya must be free. Why do I say so? Look at the amount if money we are giving the Ministry of Education Sh633 billion a year. That is the money President Kibaki ran this country the first year he took office and his second year.

"He paid teachers, doctors, lawyers, paid everybody who would run this country. That is the budget of the Ministry of Education only. Where is the money going? The money that you people are supposed to get as capitation for you to go to school for free is being eaten by gentlemen and ladies," Onyonka said on Citizen TV.

The Senator was part of the team discussing the new Financing Model that has been a bone of contention in the country.

President William Ruto's administration has defended the funding model saying that it caters for the most needy in the country.

The education sector was among the big winners in the 2024/25 national budget after it was allocated almost 30 per cent of the funds.

The sector got Sh656.6 billion of the Sh3.92 trillion fiscal estimates, translating into 27.6 per cent.

This was an increase from the Sh544.4 billion given to the sector in the 2023/24 financial year.

Of these funds, Sh358.2 billion will go to the teachers’ employer Teachers Service Commission, Sh142.3 billion will go to the Department of Basic Education which oversees the primary and secondary schools and Sh128 billion will go to the Department of Higher Education and research.

by BRIAN ORUTA