NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has rejected a proposal by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to devolve education to counties, warning it would weaken an already strained system.
Speaking in Nairobi, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said teachers have historically resisted devolution of education, recalling the 2005 referendum when the profession opposed regional control of schools.
“While we welcome Hon. Odinga’s call for a national conversation on education, devolution of this critical sector is not an option for us,” Misori said. “Counties have already failed in managing early childhood education. Teachers are poorly paid, schools lack infrastructure, and services remain interrupted.”
ECDE on the Verge of Collapse
KUPPET argued that while counties have made strides in sectors like agriculture and enterprise development, they have struggled to deliver essential services in health and education. Misori said Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) is “dying a slow death” under counties, with teachers earning less than subordinate staff and facilities lacking basic infrastructure.
Radical Fixes for Kenya’s Failing Schools
Instead of constitutional changes, the union urged the government to focus on reforms, including:
• Restoring bursaries and scholarships to make public education free at all levels.
• Honoring the Sh22,244 per student annual capitation for free day secondary education, as affirmed by President Ruto after Treasury attempted to reduce the allocation.
• Promoting 130,000 long-stagnated teachers and hiring 106,660 more to close staffing gaps, especially in junior secondary schools.
• Domiciling JSS in secondary schools to leverage existing facilities instead of stretching primary schools.
• Phasing out costly boarding schools so children can study closer to home.
KUPPET warned that a referendum would be costly and distract from urgent reforms.
“We urge leaders to stop wasting time on new campaigns that would gobble billions,” Misori said. “The government must focus on delivering quality education under its current mandate.”
