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The row surrounding Aldai MP Marianne Kitany’s move to distribute textbooks bearing her portrait to primary schools in her constituency has intensified with the legislator telling off critics.

There was a public uproar last week after a section of parents rejected the learning materials accusing the MP for using public funds to drive her political agenda.

But Kitany yesterday dismissed critics, saying her aim is to promote education standards in the area to ensure more students go to national schools.

“Schools in Aldai have for many years been posting impressive performance. As their MP I’m committed to changing things for the betterment of students from humble backgrounds,” Kitany said while distributing the textbooks at Kaptwai Primary School.

The legislator has hit out at her political detractors for politicising the issue to gain mileage.

Reading materials

However, parents who spoke to People Daily faulted the MP’s move saying she could have used the money to fund the construction of classrooms instead. “The reading materials will only be useful for six months since the 8-4-4 system will soon be phased out,” said Isaac Sang, a parent.

Some teachers also claimed that the MP did not consult them before printing the books with her pictures on the top cover.

The parents have demanded that Kitany recall the textbooks which have already been supplied to a section of primary schools even as they urged her to desist from using politics from interfering with the education sector in the region.

They called on the government to stick to the directive which the late Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha had introduced during his tenure which barred politicians from putting their portraits on school books.

Prof Magoha was forced to issue the ban on books containing pictures of politicians after former Migori Governor Okoth Obado distributed books which contained his portraits.

But defending her decision, Kitany yesterday claimed that politicians in both Nyeri and Kiambu counties had also distributed books bearing their portraits but nobody complained.