By Arnold Ageta
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Nyamira Branch is once again locking horns with Raila Odinga over his remarks on the devolution of education.
Raila made the remarks in Homabay yesterday during the Devolution Conference, which brings together all counties in the country to assess the success, failures, and way forward for devolution.
Raila said that the Constitution clearly stipulates that there should be no duplication of functions between the county and national governments to avoid wastage of time, effort, and money.
“The time has come for Kenya to devolve education up to secondary school,” he said. “It makes no sense for the CS of Education to be inspecting primary school structures that should be done by governors.”
These remarks have elicited mixed feelings, especially among teachers’ unions, who have rubbished the proposal, terming it reckless and a backward approach to an issue that fundamentally affects the future of the country.
In a press statement issued by the KNUT Nyamira Branch Executive Secretary, Evans Obiri, the Union rebuked the remarks made by Hon. Raila Odinga at the devolution conference.
“Education is a critical pillar in the development of any society, and it should not be subjected to the whims of political expediency or regional politics,” Obiri said in the statement.
He further stated that the proposal to devolve basic education puts our children’s futures at risk and threatens the uniformity and standards that our education system has worked tirelessly to achieve over the years.
“It is crucial for our leaders to focus on making the current devolution work before considering the devolution of additional services such as education,” he warned.
Mr. Obiri questioned the effectiveness of the utilization of devolved resources like bursaries and constituency development funds, as well as early years education for our children.
“The current state of these programs raises serious questions regarding the mismanagement and inefficiencies witnessed in devolved services, particularly in the health sector, which serve as stark reminders of what could happen if we apply this same model to education,” Obiri noted.
He also faulted counties, saying many Kenyans have suffered due to inadequate health services—an issue that stems from poorly implemented devolution.
“If we are to apply this same flawed model to basic education, we would be endangering the very fabric of our society by allowing inconsistencies, disparities, and a lack of accountability to emerge,” he opined.
He said that education influences everything from individual opportunity to national growth, and it should remain a national mandate, equally accessible to all children, regardless of their county of residence.
“We urge Hon. Odinga and all leaders to reconsider their approach to Kenya’s education system and instead seek ways to strengthen it at the national level to ensure equitable funding and enhance infrastructure across all regions,” he suggested.
Mr. Obiri affirmed KNUT Nyamira Branch’s stand against the devolution of basic education, saying they will continue to safeguard the rights and futures of children.
He urged educators, parents, and concerned citizens to join them in resisting what he calls a ‘misguided proposal’ and advocate for a more coherent and strategic approach to education that prioritizes the welfare and growth of students.
“It is vital that all stakeholders unite to fortify our educational framework rather than fragment it further,” the press statement concluded.
