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Member of Parliament (MP) Homa Bay Town Constituency Peter Kaluma has 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 says 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.

Koome on education funding model

On Wednesday, August 21, Koome 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.

Koome now suggests that all bursaries be collapsed into one to make education free for all, as the fate of thousands of learners set to join universities for their higher learning remains in limbo and confusion continues to reign in the new university funding model.

“When you follow you find that a child of a well-to-do family has been put in Band 1 while a child who has qualified to go to the university can be there crying, saying I have been put in Band 5 when I ought to be in Band 1 and therefore I cannot afford to go to the university,” Koome said.

The CJ further suggested that if all the money given to legislatures is consolidated into one fund, the amount will be sufficient for the government to run a free education programme.

“There’s a bursary fund from the taxpayers’ money given to the governor, women rep, given to the MP through CDF and MCA, all those bursaries, how are they disbursed? Why don’t you put them in Education and make Education free for all?” she suggested.

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. pic.twitter.com/g9VA5kVwIj

— Hon. George Peter Kaluma, CBS. MP. (@gpdkaluma) August 23, 2024