By A, KNA
Molo MP Kuria Kimani has slammed former DP Rigathi Gachagua over his recent remarks over the placement of grade 10 candidates from the larger Mount Kenya region.
He decried that the statements were tribal and meant to incite and sow seeds oif discord among the local communities terming such remarks as retrogressive and primitive aimed at igniting ethnic emotions within schools.
Speaking at Machatha Secondary during the commissioning of a classroom and laboratory funded by NG-CDF Molo constituency, Kuria urged Gachagua to keep off education matters and upheld the statute of statesmanship if he meant well for the Kenyans at large.
“The reckless statement by the former DP Gachagua on school placement is merely reckless and is likely to cause tribalism in schools, an institution which assures Kenyans of uniformity, inclusivity and equality,” said Kuria.
“Someone who has held a high office like him must be mindful of the interest of all Kenyans and play a statesman figure in his politics,” he added.
Former DP had called on school heads in the central province to prioritize learners from the region on the ongoing grade 10 placement who are to report next week.
The remarks sparked mixed reaction from Kenyans across the political divide.
The ministry of education on Tuesday this week opened a window for the review of grade 10 learners’ placement following outcry by most parents and learners over the schools called to join.
This comes as 1.13 million inaugural grade 10 learners are preparing to join senior school on January 12, just a week after the placement results were released. The transfer window will help to clear anxiety among the learners and parents.
“The ministry had this week allowed learners who are dissatisfied with placement to change to their school of choice as long as one meet the requirement and pathway desire,” the legislator advised parents.
Over 51% of learners had expressed their interest to pursue the STEM pathway with 38% opting for Social science and the rest opting for sports and art according to the ministry of education’s first review result.
Either MP Kuria urged leaders from central provinces to be mindful of other regions which are under-developed and support the president Ruto bid of ensuring regional balance on the development agenda of the nation.
“Some leaders are in regions which are 99% connected with electricity and also have the highest number of infrastructure development yet they oppose development in other areas in the name of united opposition,” MP Kuria noted.
The legislator lauded the president’s effort to ensure developments are uniformly distributed so that all Kenyans have a feel of his leadership.
He singled out the dualling of Rironi-Mau-summit Highway all the way to Malaba and the extension of SGR from Naivasha to Malaba via Kisumu.
“Development must be felt across the country since all Kenyans pay tax. Those opposing duallying of road from Naivasha to Malaba and extension of SGR are selfish leaders,” he noted.
