There is hope for needy students who met the cut for admission, but are unable to join due to lack of school fees after Starehe Member of Parliament Charles Kanyi, alias Jaguar, appealed to the Ministry of Education to order secondary schools to admit them.
Speaking at the Revival Gospel Sanctuary church in Kawangware, Mr Kanyi said the students should be allowed to report to the schools they were called to join with uniforms and other basic shopping as their parents or guardians toil to raise the needed fees.
“It would be unfair to lock deserving students out of education over something [school fees] that can be looked for gradually. I urge the Ministry of Education, through CS Amina Mohamed, to ask the school heads to allow deserving students, who are financially challenged, to join Form One. The students’ parents, on the other hand, should try to ensure that they raise the fees as the school sessions continue,” said Jaguar.
The musician-turned-politician, however, lauded CS Amina Mohamed for allowing secondary school principals to admit students through the online registration portal.
According to the ministry, the purpose of online admission is to create a complete database for all students joining secondary schools. This information would be used for allocation of grants from government under subsidized learning programme, registration for medical insurance and recording of transition from primary to secondary school.
The Starehe MP also spoke about the ongoing wrangles within the ruling Jubilee Party, saying that the outfit’s vice chairman, David Murathe, should go slow on anti-Ruto politics.
“In politics, there are no permanent enemies. [ODM leader] Raila Odinga has, in the past, worked with Deputy President William Ruto. Today, Mr Murathe is saying that Mr Ruto shouldn’t be allowed to run for president in 2022. That general election is still far, and I want to assure you that the DP will work with Raila in 2022. Watch this space,” said Jaguar.
The lawmaker was accompanied to church by MP John Kiarie, the Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, among other leaders.