Kenya Kwanza Regime Mortgaging the Future of the Children and Youth of Kenya, Karua

By James Mutua

NARC Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua has said that the Kenya Kwanza government, led by President William Ruto, is mishandling the education system, which is now on the brink of collapse. Karya argues that the government's actions, marked by poor planning and a disregard for the needs of students, are jeopardizing the future of Kenya's children and youth.

When the Ruto administration came to power, it promised to use education as a tool for economic equality, offering ambitious reforms aimed at better aligning the curriculum with labor market needs. However, two years into its tenure, the country has witnessed a chaotic and poorly executed series of reforms that have left the education system in disarray. “What we are seeing is a hotchpotch of half-baked policies, coupled with a refusal to address the systemic failures that threaten to derail Kenya’s educational progress,” said Karua. 

At the heart of the crisis is the government's handling of the university funding model. President Ruto's administration introduced a new system for funding tertiary education, but it has been met with widespread resistance. The government’s decision to press ahead with the reforms, despite a court order suspending their implementation, has led to unrest in public universities. Lecturers, many of whom are in dispute with the government over unfulfilled Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), have staged strikes, further exacerbating the already difficult situation for students.

The crisis extends beyond universities, with early childhood education (ECD) and secondary schools also facing significant challenges. Teacher shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and unresolved recruitment issues have created a learning environment that disproportionately affects children from poor families. Without the necessary resources and trained educators, these children are at risk of falling behind in their education, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

"The government’s incompetence is clear," she said. "From a lack of planning in implementing reforms to ignoring the realities on the ground, they are creating an environment where the quality of education is rapidly deteriorating."

Further compounding the situation, the government has failed to release essential funds to universities, leaving many institutions struggling to meet their operational costs. At the same time, students are facing mounting financial pressures, with the government’s failure to release HELB loans leaving many unable to pay for their education.

The impact of these missteps is not only felt by students and teachers but could have far-reaching consequences for Kenya's international reputation. There are growing fears that the country’s academic credentials may soon be blacklisted, damaging the credibility of Kenyan graduates in the global job market.

As Kenya stands at a critical juncture, there are calls for immediate action. Education stakeholders are demanding that the government withdraw its controversial new funding model and revert to the previous system until the matter is resolved in court. Additionally, they are calling for the full implementation of the government’s obligations under existing CBAs with university staff and the unconditional release of capitation funds to universities.

“We must not allow this crisis to continue,” said Kabando wa Kabando. “The future of our children is at stake, and we need the government to act responsibly before it’s too late.”