The Government has employed 76,000 teachers in two years, Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki said on Saturday as he gave a scorecard of the government’s performance.
The DP who spoke in Masinga and Kangundo constituencies during fundraising events dubbed as ‘Women and Youth Empowerment’ forums said 24,000 more teachers will be employed in December this year.
He said police recruitment had also stalled, but this year the government was going to employ 10,000 police officers.
Prof. Kindiki, however, said that the biggest employment opportunity the government had created was in the Affordable Housing Program, which had absorbed over 250,000 workers so far, including carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers, architects, Engineers, and Quantity Surveyors.
“I have a report card of what the government has done in two years, and much more is going to happen in five years,” said Kindiki.
He said it was time to build the nation and not to engage in useless politics.
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“For now, we should concern ourselves with building the Nation. We have no time for useless politics. Those who say certain tribes do not deserve development are mistaken. This is one Country, one people,” said Prof Kindiki.
Prof Kindiki said the economy had been ruined by the coronavirus pandemic and that reviving the economy was part of the government’s agenda.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa said the government had released Sh22 billion capitation to Primary and secondary schools this week.
He said a further Sh6 billion was budgeted to cater for national examinations to ensure no child missed exams on account of a lack of fees.
Ichung’wa dismissed claims that the money being used for the Women and Youth Employment Programs was money meant for Capitation, which had been diverted.
“I have heard the opposition say that the funds we are using for empowerment are the money meant for Capitation. Those are lies. This week, the government has released Sh22 billion Capitation to schools,” said Ichung’wa.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, however, dismissed the empowerment fundraisers as gimmicks, saying former President Mwai Kibaki and his then Deputy Kalonzo Musyoka created the Women and Youth Enterprise Fund, which was real empowerment to the people.
“The real empowerment is not what politicians are doing. You can’t spend Sh10 Million flying around in choppers to raise Sh5 Million for empowerment,” said Mwangangi, who spoke at the Agricultural Show in Machakos.
MPs: Caleb Mule (Machakos Town), Fabian Kyule (Kangundo), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West), Danson Mungatana(Tana-River), Tabitha Mutinda (Nominated Senator), Eric Wamumbi (Mathira), Sabina Chege (Nominated), Betty Maina (Woman Representative, Murang’a), Members of Machakos County Assembly (MCAs) led by Speaker Ann Kiusya and other grassroots leaders were present.
By Stephen Muthini
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