DP Gachagua warns teachers against sending home students over fees

When Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua led in distribution of humanitarian support to families affected by heavy rains and windstorms in Kinangop Constituency, Nyandarua County, on January 30, 2023. [DPCS]

Stern action will be taken against teachers who send home Junior Secondary School (JSS) learners for lack of school uniform, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said.

Gachagua said all students must be allowed to continue with their studies until their parents are able to buy the new uniform.

"Any teacher sending JSS children away from school because of lack of uniform or desks will be disciplined," he said on Wednesday at Enoomatasiani Primary School in Kajiado North constituency.

Speaking when he opened the JSS laboratory at the primary school, the DP said money had been disbursed to schools to fully support the roll out of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) including JSS.

"The Ministry of Education has released adequate capitation for JSS, primary and secondary schools. No teacher should send any child home. The children must be allowed to learn," he emphasised.

Gachagua also launched construction of the Matasia (Silanga) Irrigation project that is expected to benefit thousands of residents.

The DP commissioned the tarmacking of Ngong-Kahara Road that is expected to boost economic activities in the area.

He was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen (Roads and Transport) and Ezekiel Machogu (Education), Principal Secretaries Belio Kipsang (Education) and Ephantus Kimotho (Water and Irrigation), Kajiado Deputy Governor Martin Mishisho, National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro and more than 20 MPs and senators led by the host MP Onesmus Ngogoyo.

Gachagua reiterated the government's commitment to ensure development across the country to improve livelihoods.

He warned lawmakers against engaging in premature succession campaigns saying it is an insult to Kenyans who voted for them. The DP told leaders to focus on improving lives of the people.

"This is not time to politic. It is insensitive and an insult to the people of Kenya to talk about succession ten years from now. This is the time to work for the people of Kenya. All leaders should stop their talk on succession and focus on serving the people," he said.

Gachagua said the only conversation leaders should be engaging in right now is building more roads, electricity connection, improving schools' infrastructure and water connection among other development projects.

"The conversation in Kenya today is about roads, water, schools, fertilizer, building markets and making life easy for the people of Kenya. I want to ask all leaders, more so in our coalition, to focus on service delivery and working for wananchi," he said.