Matiang’i urges Ruto, Opposition to work together in addressing education crisis
Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Fred Matiang’i is calling for a national conversation aimed at streamlining the education sector following the rising cases of student unrest in secondary schools.
Speaking in Meru County, Matiang’i, who served as Education Cabinet Secretary during retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration, called on opposition leaders to set aside political differences with President William Ruto in order to save what he described as a sector on a slippery slope.
As parents continue receiving messages on temporary school closures following unrest in secondary schools across the country, Matiang’i says the time is ripe for a national conversation aimed at finding lasting solutions to the perennial problem.
While attending a Saturday service at Meru Central SDA Church, Matiang’i called on President William Ruto to convene an all-inclusive stakeholder engagement before the crisis worsens.
“It is abundantly clear that you have a problem and you have a crisis. And there is no reason to be arrogant and refuse what everyone can see. Mko na shida, and the sector has been very badly mismanaged,” stated Matiang’i.
Pointing to mismanagement in the critical sector as one of the factors driving the unrest, Matiang’i said the issue of school fires should top the agenda of the proposed talks, especially given the rising number of incidents reported in schools.
“We can keep pointing fingers at the government and blaming the government and saying this and saying that. We look like irresponsible people. Our children are suffering, and we are spending time calling each other names, saying it is him who is wrong, it is her who has not done this,” he added.
His sentiments were echoed by Party of National Unity leader Peter Munya. The two leaders rallied their counterparts in the opposition to participate in the proposed dialogue, saying it was the only way to save a sector they claim has been run down by the current administration.
“I hope our president will see it as a genuine sincere need for us to have an all-parties conversation on the education sector in the country because it is a crisis, and it is going to blow up sooner than we think,” stated Matiang’i.
“Budget ya education haijaenda chini. Infact wale wanajua budget inaenda ikienda juu lakini ile inahitajika ifikie kazi ile inahitajika ifanyike kwa mashule, kwa mauniversity, kwa institution zile zingine zinahitaji pesa imeenda chini. Ni kidogo. Imeenda chini,” stated Munya.
The two leaders also opposed government plans to securitize the housing levy as a way of bridging a Ksh.118 billion budget shortfall in the construction of affordable housing units.
