By Mutuku Mwangangi,
The full reopening of schools slated for January next year is likely to fly into headwinds if the national government will not have released education funds, Kathiani MP Robert Mbui has warned.
MP Mbui, who is also a member of the National Assembly Education Committee said the national government needs to urgently release capitation funds for learners to enable to allow officials to prepare adequately ahead of the resumption of learning.
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His call comes a day after Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) George Maghoha announced a new calendar for learners ahead of full school reopening on January 4, 2021.
The Kathiani MP also told the Treasury to release funds for the National Government-Constituency Development Fund to fund infrastructure development in schools in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta's directive for the funds to be used to set up Covid-19 protocol teams.
"The ministry needs to understand that even when schools were fully closed, there were expenses incurred maintaining the institutions," the MP said.
He said that the constituency has not received any cash in the new financial year.
Mbui spoke at his constituency when handing over Sh20 million bursary cheques for secondary schools in Kathiani.
The MP also took a jab at CS Magoha for insulting the Uasin Gishu Education Director, saying Cabinet secretaries need to exhibit better interpersonal skills.
Commenting on the Building Bridges Initiative, the MP warned politicians against opposing the document without having read it.
" Some people are even bringing forth personal issues in the draft. Let everyone politician take an unbiased opinion on the matter otherwise we will be heading in the wrong direction," he said.
The Wiper National Organizing secretary said that the BBI initiative will address the issue of skewed development as it has proposed the creation of a ward development fund.
