Nakuru County assembly passes motion to make pre-primary education free

The Nakuru County Assembly has passed a motion that would make pre-primary education free in Nakuru County.

The bill was brought forth to the house by Shabab ward, Member of County Assembly David Waithiai and seconded by nominated MCA Dorcas Gathere.

Speaking to Shaabab MCA on phone, he highlights the plight he goes through, together with some of the members before every opening of the school term, as parents request for school fees for their children in ECDEs forcing him to dig into his own pocket.

During the live session at the house, Elburgon MCA Njuguna Mwaura termed this as a step in the right direction.

“A time has come for us to do our work. In Elburgon I sometimes walk around and find children who should be in school loitering around the streets and others even being locked in the houses as their parents go to carry out manual labour,” he says.

London Ward MCA, Bernard Gatuso commended Shabab MCA for bringing the motion, acknowledging that the Uji program which was started by Governor Susan Kihika in public schools only solves part of the problem.

“Moving around in the areas I come from, the program has helped many of the children but equally there is still a problem when it comes to school fees and we must solve this.” he says.

Nominated MCA, Loice Kagecha who is the deputy chair of the Education committee at the assembly says that whatever is paid at the pre-primary level may not look like much but it is so much for a parent without a source of income.

“This motion is very timely and it will ensure all our children go to school,” she says.

So, what next?

According to the motion mover, now that the County Assembly has passed the Bill the next move is for the County government to allocate funds for its implementation and come up with a policy on how the capitation fund will be used.