The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has strongly opposed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s suggestion to transfer the management of education to county governments.
Speaking on August 20, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said devolving the sector would weaken its stability. He pointed out that counties are already struggling with health services and early childhood education.
He added that persistent strikes in essential services such as healthcare show the weakness of county management. ECD centers, he noted, remain understaffed and poorly equipped.
“It’s abundantly clear that counties have struggled with critical service sectors, including health and education. Early Childhood Development and Education is dying a slow death under counties. ECDE teachers are the most poorly paid cadre in the public sector, earning less than subordinate staffers in most counties,” Misori said.
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The union also warned that placing teachers under county assemblies would politicize education and cause mismanagement. Instead, it urged the national government to make public education free at all levels, address teacher shortages and fast-track promotions.
KUPPET also demanded that Junior Secondary Schools remain under secondary institutions to make use of existing resources. It further proposed a gradual phasing out of boarding schools by 2030 to cut costs and allow children to stay with their families.
Misori added that the wider goal should be to make public education free at all levels and end constant disputes over school funding.
“Genuine national dialogue is needed to unlock urgent action on challenges facing the basic education sector, including the abolition of all bursary funds, scholarships and other financial aids in the education sector with a view to making public education free at all levels in Kenya. This would address the constant struggle by parents to raise school fees for their children at all levels of education. It would also end the perennial bickering between the government and school administrators over capitation disbursements,” Misori added.
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KUPPET concluded that instead of pushing for constitutional amendments, political leaders should pressure the government to improve services under the current system.
Debate on devolving education has resurfaced after Raila’s recent remarks. Supporters argue counties are closer to the people and better placed to manage resources. Critics, however, say counties already face serious challenges in healthcare and Early Childhood Development (ECD), which are fully devolved.
In many areas, ECDE teachers have protested over poor pay, delayed salaries and lack of facilities. Previous attempts to move education management from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to counties have also been resisted by teacher unions who warn the move could fragment the system and expose schools to political interference.
By Benedict Aoya
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