MPs, State partner to raise Sh6.76b for infrastructure in Junior Secondary

The government and MPs are partnering to raise over Sh6 billion needed for Junior Secondary School.

The Sh6.76 billion will mainly go towards infrastructure development, which will include laboratories, classrooms and workshops for technical subjects.

MPs are expected to make their contributions through their respective National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF), it has emerged.

The money will be managed jointly by the NGCDF and the national government, according to Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang.

The government has already announced the release of Sh3.3 billion towards the project. The money will be distributed to constituencies based on the number of learners admitted.

Dr Kipsang said the money will be used for the construction of classrooms and an Integrated Learning Resources Centre within the Junior Secondary Schools for a total of 923,752 learners.

"Following consultations within the executive, this amount is proposed to be jointly managed by the Ministry of Education and the NGCDF as a conditional grant. This will ensure synergy and timeliness in implementing the programme," Kipsang said.

Rift Valley will get Sh797.13 million, while Nyanza will get Sh616.64 million. Others are Western (Sh566.15 million), Eastern (Sh498.9 million) and Central (Sh362.61 million). The Coast region will get Sh296.89 while North Eastern will get Sh91.78 million.

Kakamega County has been allocated the lion's share of the funds. The county, which has 48,911 students in 778 schools spread across 11 constituencies, will get Sh178,519,533.

Other counties in this category include Bungoma with 44, 974 students, which will receive Sh164, 149, 483 which will be distributed to 704 schools within the eight constituencies.

Nakuru will get Sh151,177,383. The county has 41,420 students in this category. The government will send Sh148, 567,633 to Nairobi County which will benefit 40,705 learners.

Kitui County will receive Sh120.7 million, Kilifi Sh118.6 million while Kiambu has been allocated Sh114.2 million.

Isiolo, with 3,214 learners, will get Sh11, 725,483, while Lamu will get over Sh8 million. The county has 3,236 students. Others are Samburu (Sh14, 492,183) and Tana River County (Sh20, 131,433).

Constituencies which will reap big include Kinango (Sh27.2 million), Kanduyi (Sh25.9 million), Mt Elgon (25.1 million), Alego Usonga (Sh24.1 million) and Naivasha (Sh23.1 million).

Others are Cherangany and Mbooni, which will each get (Sh21.6 million, while Bumula and Ndiwa will each get Sh21.4 million. Tongaren and Magarini will each receive Sh21.1 million.

Lagdera and Fafi constituencies will each get Sh1.1 million while Lafey and Eldas will each get Sh1.2 million. Others are Lamu and Balambala (Sh1.7 million) while Dadaab and Tarbaj will get Sh1.8 million and 1.9 million respectively.

Dr Kipsang said each constituency will be required to allocate a similar amount from the National Government Development Fund towards the same course.

"The Ministry of Education has allocated varying amounts to all constituencies based on grade seven enrolment and each constituency will match a shilling for a shilling. The 2023/2024 FY constituency proposals must have input from the Ministry as a unique requirement to be used for approval by the board," the PS said.

He said the proposal on the sharing of funds has been agreed on with the Committee on Education and Research of Parliament and approved by the Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.

This was also confirmed through a letter dated October 4, to the MPs, by the Education Committee chairman Julius Melly, who said the grant is going to be managed by both the constituencies and the national government, each contributing an equal amount to ensure the success of the project.

"The National Treasury allocated the Ministry of Education and the State Department for Basic Education Sh3.379 billion in 2023/2024 for the construction of classrooms and Integrated Learning Resources Centres within the Junior Secondary Schools," Melly noted in his letter.