The Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has assured Kenyans that the government will continue funding free education.
Speaking in Thigithu Comprehensive and Junior School in Laikipia East Sub County, Laikipia County during an economic empowerment programme, Prof. Kindiki said that there would be no turning back on free education in the country.
“The president has said that the program on free education started by the late former president Mwai Kibaki in 2003 will not be stopped. I want to assure the public that there is no turning back, we will continue funding basic education,” said the DP, adding that the initiative had made the Kenya’s education system to be recognized globally.
He said that the Kenya Kwanza administration was committed to ensuring that all learners access education with ease through construction of adequate classrooms and regular employment of teachers.
For instance, since taking power, the Kenya Kwanza administration had employed over 76,000 teachers for both primary and secondary schools and by December another batch 24,000 tutors would be employed.
On school infrastructure, Prof. Kindiki said, “Classrooms constructed through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) are not enough. The Ministry of education is boosting that and in the last three years, the State has constructed 23,000 classrooms including 7,000 by NG-CDF and 16,000 by the Ministry of Education.”
At the same time, the DP pointed out that the government had reduced university fees by 40 percent to enable learners, who are not able to access higher education due to lack of fees to enroll starting September next month. The bold reforms in the education sector further aim to ensure that even those who are at the various Technical and Vocation Education and Training institutions (TVETs) can access loans through Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to facilitate their learning, in a move that would increase enrollment, he added.
“For universities and TVET learners wishing to get scholarships and loans, it will be issued through HELB,’’ reiterated the DP.
Consequently, the government has now increased funding for the Higher Education Loans Board from Sh36 billion last year to Sh41 billion this year to support higher education in the country.
Prof. Kindiki clarified that the state had good programs for the country’s education system to help it remain relevant and affordable, will also maintaining high quality standards.
The second in command also noted that the government was creating job opportunities for the youth through the Climate WorKS Mtaani that is expected to kick off countrywide this month.
During the function, the DP presided over the graduation ceremony of more than 100 students from Overflow College in Nanyuki Town in various technical courses including hairdressing, barber skills, beauty therapy among others through the support of the Laikipia East NG-CDF.
He was accompanied by the National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wa, Members of Parliament including Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East), Sarah Korere (Laikipa North), Rindikiri Mugambi (Buuri) and the Wildlife PS Silvia Museiya together her Defence counterpart Patrick Mariru among other local leaders.
The leaders promised to rally behind President Dr. William Ruto for his reelection in 2027 vowing not to be swayed by divisive politics.
They called for scrapping of the proposed Public Transport Motorcycle Regulation Bill, 2025, which aims to regulate the bodaboda sector in the country, warning that such a move would impact negatively on the local bodaboda industry.
By Muturi Mwangi
