𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁, 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀

The National Assembly Committee on Education has demanded answers regarding the absence of funding for the School Feeding Programme.

In a meeting chaired by Hon. Julius Melly (Tinderet) , Committee Members raises concern over the decreased funding to the State Department on Basic Education.

The Committee acknowledged the importance of the initiative aimed at improving student nutrition and attendance.”The School Feeding Programme has kept our children in school. How can it not be funded?” stated Hon. Julius Melly (Tinderet).

Hon. Rebecca Tonkei (Narok County) and Hon. Jerusha Momanyi (Nyamira County) echoed the sentiments. “Some of us are here because we were sustained through this school feeding programme especially those of us from arid and semi arid areas,” added Hon. Abdul Haro (Mandera South)

PS Bellio Kipsang informed the Committee the School Feeding Program was not funded adding, “we seek the supoort of this Committee to reinstate Kshs 4.9 billion that had been allocated.”

Committee Members raised concerns about a net decrease of Kshs. 5.3 billion compared to the 2024 Budget Policy Statement. This includes significant reductions in allocations for Free Primary Education, Free Junior Secondary Education, and Free Day Secondary Education.

Lawmakers questioned the justification for these cuts, particularly in light of reports on ghost schools receiving capitation funds. “Do you mean we have ghost learners who have been getting funding without the ministry’s knowledge?” inquired Hon. Timothy Torotich (Marakwet West).

On her part, Hon. Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul) mentioned the lack of equipment schools. She said, “There are no Junior Secondary Schools and Secondary Schools laboratories. Where is the money we had previously allocated?”

In the presentation made by PS Bellio Kipsang, Members of the Education Committee noted zero allocations to four critical agencies within the Education sector including; the Science Equipment Production Unit (SEPU), National Council for Nomadic Education (NACONEK), and Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (CEMASTEA).

“How do you not fund KNEC it’s a critical department?” pointed out Hon. Nabii Nabwire (Lugari).

During the meeting, Members demanded justification for the Ministry’s spending priorities. The Committee requested for details on the Ministry’s implemenation of the school feeding programme including special needs schools and integrated schools.

The Education Committee is expected to meet with the State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training, the State Department for Higher Education and the Teachers Sevuce Commission on Budget Estimates FY 2024/25 and Supplementary Estimates II 2023/24, tomorrow Wednesday, May 15th 2024.