Senator Wants Presidential Order to Keep Needy Learners in Schools
Senator for Tana River Danston Mungatana has called on the government to find a permanent solution for children being sent home for school fees frequently amid the raging drought that has affected 92,000 people in the county.
Mungatana said that the president should issue an executive order to ensure that all learners who are also suffering from food poverty stay in school even if they do not pay school fees.
According to the Senator, executive order or an alternative short-term intervention by the Treasury and the Ministry of Education would make sure that learners are back in schools as the school year comes to an end.
“Learners in Tana River and across the drought-stricken parts of the country have been sent home to bring school fees but due to the tough economic times and biting drought, most parents cannot afford to take their children back to school,” said Mungatana.
“The order would act as a temporary measure as arrangements are being made to ensure that the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) is aligned to the constitution,” said Mungatana.
Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that the NG-CDF Act 2013 was unconstitutional leaving a dent to both MPs and its beneficiaries.
Mungatana also implored the government to ensure that the NG-CDF was brought back so that Kenyans who have been depending on it can continue enjoying its benefits.
He said that Members of Parliament (MPs) led by Matungulu MP Stephen Mule had begun working on the new CDF Act and he was optimistic that the solution was en route.
“The reason why the Senate was against the CDF was that it was unconstitutional. Senators were never involved in passing it. However, we all agree that CDF plays a key role in our society including helping to pay learners’ school fees, building infrastructure in schools and security among many others,” reported Mungatana.
Mungata said that senators are fully in support of the CDF and they shall approve it after it is formulated properly.
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