Embakasi East Member of Parliament, Babu Owino, is urging the national government to expedite the disbursement of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in order to address the pressing financial needs of parents as their children prepare to enter high school.
In a video shared on his X account, Babu Owino attributes the delayed disbursement of CDF funds to President William Ruto, accusing him of undermining the education system. Babu Owino asserts, “Ruto has defiled our education system and must be stopped. 2024 is a year to hold this ineffective government accountable, deliver to Kenyans, and reduce the cost of living.”
President Ruto, in the past month, and the National Treasury assured members of parliament that the funds would be disbursed before schools reopen. Ruto stated, ”I want to assure members that there are resources for our children to go to school. That is not negotiable; we will prioritize other items.”
Babu Owino warns that a lack of financial support can hinder students’ access to high school education, potentially contributing to unemployment. He emphasizes the critical nature of timely funding, especially given the financial constraints many parents are currently facing, which may impede them from enrolling their children in high school this year.
“With the release of the KCPE results, we have a cohort of students set to join high school this year. Unfortunately, many parents find themselves in a challenging financial position and will struggle to meet the cost of education,” he states.
The remarks from the Embakasi East Member of Parliament follow Raila Odinga’s accusation against the Kenya Kwanza government, alleging that it misled Kenyans by claiming to have increased capitation for students while, in reality, it had not yet disbursed the full allocation for students from the previous academic year.
Raila Odinga threatens to take legal action to compel the Kenya Kwanza administration to release the full capitation to schools. He expresses regret that, despite the Treasury releasing the money, the Ministry of Education continues to withhold it, causing suffering for children and teachers.
This revelation raises concerns about the financial challenges that schools and students may face at the beginning of the new academic year. As the academic year commences, the government’s prompt disbursement of funds for students will play a crucial role in ensuring that all eligible students can access quality education without financial barriers. The Education Ministry has not provided any comments on the matter.
