Tough Times For Ruto as Raila Issues Powerful Demands

Azimio leader Raila Odinga presented a set of demands to the government on Tuesday, urging President William Ruto to address issues related to school funding before the scheduled opening date of January 8.

Mr. Raila emphasized the need for the government to release all owed funding to schools, including capitation allowances for both primary and secondary schools.

In his statement, Raila specifically called for the capitation allowance to be released at the approved level of Sh22,244 per child in the 2023/2024 financial year. He expressed concern about the disparities between regions, emphasizing the damaging impact on equality within the education system.

Raila also called upon President Ruto to reassess priorities in the new year, questioning the government’s allocation of funds to affordable housing while neglecting funding for children’s education. Opposition leaders echoed these sentiments, urging the state to fulfill its financial obligations to schools, including settling outstanding bills.

ODM leaders extended their call to religious leaders and civil society organizations, urging them to bring the government under control and ensure that education is funded in accordance with the constitution. Raila argued that fully funding schools is essential to providing every child in the country with a fair chance in life.

In a final directive, Raila called on members of Congress to prioritize spending on primary and higher education. He demanded proactive steps to force the government to release public education funding for both primary and secondary education before the reopening of schools, stressing the importance of timely delivery by Monday.

The Azimio leader criticized the government’s allocation of resources, highlighting the incongruity of denying funding for education while allocating funds to so-called affordable housing. Raila’s stance underscores the opposition’s commitment to ensuring that education remains a top priority, advocating for fair and equal opportunities for all children in the country.

The developments were conveyed during President William Ruto’s State of the Union Address on November 9, 2023, attended by 4,444 Members of Parliament. The opposition’s demands and calls for action set the stage for a potential confrontation between the government and opposition leaders over education funding.