Former Chief Justice David Maraga has pledged to overhaul the education sector and champion youth empowerment as key pillars of his presidential agenda.
Speaking during a Town Hall meeting in Kwale County, Maraga expressed frustration over the persistent delays in school capitation, which he said have negatively impacted learning across the country.
He stressed that education should never be underfunded or treated as a secondary issue in national planning.
“Education is the backbone of any progressive society. No country can prosper if its young people are denied the opportunity to learn and grow,” he said.
Maraga said he wants to build a nation where every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education; outlining plans to increase budgetary allocation to the education sector and streamline the disbursement of capitation funds to ensure that schools receive adequate support in a timely manner.
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He also promised to improve infrastructure in public schools, enhance teacher training, and integrate technology into the curriculum to prepare students for a modern, digital economy.
Beyond classrooms, Maraga stressed the importance of equipping young people with skills that can help them thrive in today’s competitive job market.
He proposed the establishment of more vocational training centers and entrepreneurship hubs in rural and urban areas.
“I want to bank on the education of our children and the empowerment of our youth because no country has ever succeeded without creating a strong foundation for its young people,” he said.
Maraga said that if elected as the president, his government will invest in innovation, mentorship programs, and access to funding for youth-led initiatives.
The former Chief Justice also criticized what he termed as a ‘systemic neglect’ of young people, warning that sidelining the youth from national development threatens the future of the country, promising to create policies that give young people, women and minority groups especially Persons with Disabilities a seat at the decision-making table.
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“I want to create a conducive environment where young people can vie for various political seats and bring their fresh ideas onboard to make a change,” he said.
The emeritus CJ positioned himself as a reform-minded leader determined to tackle inequalities and ensure that education and youth empowerment are no longer just campaign promises, but deliverables, adding that he will ensure no child from a poor background is left behind.
United Green Movement (UGM) Party Leader Agostino Neto also strongly criticized the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), saying it has failed both parents and learners due to poor implementation and inadequate resources.
Neto lamented that the government scrapped what he termed as a better education funding model and replaced it with a system that lacks proper support.
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“They removed the best education funding model and replaced it with a broken one. “Right now, our schools are grappling with a shortage of teachers and a lack of promised learning materials. Parents and their children are left to suffer,” he said.
He further pointed out that the delays and inconsistencies in school capitation have left many institutions struggling to operate, with head teachers unable to run schools effectively or provide essential services to learners.
Neto said if Maraga becomes President he will prioritize quality and equity in education.
BY OMAR SHABAN
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