Homa Bay Town Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma has called for an audit of all the money that has been issued by county governments toward bursaries.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmaker in a statement issued via his official X account on Friday, August 23, 2024, said that the money should also be recovered.
Kaluma on devolving education
Kaluma argues that primary, secondary and university education are not devolved to counties, for governors to issue bursaries.
He says the move by the county chiefs to issue bursaries to learners from their devolved units is against the law.
According to Kaluma, governors have been issuing bursaries for politics and plunder purposes.
Kaluma on stolen funds
He suggests that the money issued so far should be recovered from responsible county officials as stolen funds.
“Primary, Secondary and University education aren’t devolved to counties. Governors purport to issue bursaries against the law for politics and plunder. All money issued by counties towards bursary should be audited and recovered from responsible county officials as stolen funds,” Kaluma stated.
Primary, Secondary and University education aren't devolved to counties. Governors purport to issue bursaries against the law for politics and plunder.
— Hon. George Peter Kaluma, CBS. MP. (@gpdkaluma) August 23, 2024
All money issued by counties towards bursary should be audited and recovered from responsible county officials as stolen funds. pic.twitter.com/bq7yU3DJVk
Kaluma was responding to a video interview of Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda, who had criticised the move by counties to issue bursaries to higher education and universities.
Lesuuda on county bursaries
Lesuuda argues that the only education function that has been devolved to counties is Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE).
She says issuing bursaries is not part of the counties’ function.
Several counties have been running scholarship programmes which they have been using to sponsor bright and needy students through bursaries.
Kaluma criticises CJ Koome
MP Kaluma had earlier criticised Chief Justice Martha Koome over her sentiments on the education funding model.
In a statement shared on X on Friday, August 23, 2024, Kaluma said the concerns raised by the CJ are good, however, they are based on false with inaccurate background information.
Denouncing Koome’s recommendations, the ODM lawmaker stated that secondary education should be made free to create clear and proper systems to secure subsidised University education.
“Good concern well raised by @CJMarthaKoome, but based on false, incorrect background information and wrong prescription. Let’s make secondary education free and create clear, just and proper systems to secure subsidised University education,” MP Kaluma said.
Good concern well raised by @CJMarthaKoome, but based on false, incorrect background information and wrong prescription.
— Hon. George Peter Kaluma, CBS. MP. (@gpdkaluma) August 23, 2024
Let's make secondary education free and create clear, just and proper systems to secure subsidised University education. pic.twitter.com/g9VA5kVwIj
This is after CJ Koome on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, raised concerns about the new higher education funding model introduced by the government.
Terming it discriminatory, the CJ said that if the new model is implemented there will be a serious inequality gap in the universities.
She further called for a review of the whole structure adding that the new model will trigger an unprecedented inequality in the institutions of higher learning.
