KANDUYI — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has dismissed dissolution of free education program, affirming the government’s full commitment to sustaining and improving access to primary and secondary schooling. Addressing residents during the Kanduyi Constituency Economic Empowerment forum at Posta Grounds, DP Kindiki said the current administration will protect and expand education access, noting that the sector has received more than KSh700 billion in the 2025–2026 national budget.
“We will not reverse the gains made in making primary and secondary education free and compulsory,” DP Kindiki said. “This administration is committed to building on the legacy of previous governments that prioritized education as a right, not a privilege.”
According to Kindiki, the increased allocation will support infrastructure upgrades, teacher training, and hiring under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The plan includes adding 24,000 new teachers before year’s end. Combined with the 76,000 hired since 2022, the government targets 100,000 new recruits to close the persistent staffing gap in public schools.
“This is not just about money it’s about quality,” DP Kindiki reiterated. “We’re ensuring education is not only accessible but also relevant and effective.”
Deputy president Kithure Kindiki dismissed claims that education spending could be slashed to manage other fiscal pressures. He urged Kenyans to ignore what he called “politically driven noise.” In his address, Kindiki also clarified the purpose of the economic empowerment forums taking place nationwide. He said the forums aim to support registered community groups, cooperatives, and savings societies with funding for sustainable income-generating projects not handouts. “These programs are designed to build lasting livelihoods,” Kindiki said. “This is structured investment not campaign giveaways.”
Deputy President listed several ongoing projects, including the construction of 26 modern markets in Bungoma County and the upgrade of roads vital to regional trade. Among them is the 63-kilometer Musikoma–Navakholo Road and the Misikhu–Brigadier route.DP Kindiki highlighted improvements in the agricultural sector, noting that the revived Mumias Sugar Factory is now paying farmers weekly and clearing outstanding salaries and bonuses. He said similar efforts are underway at Nzoia Sugar and other factories in the Western and Nyanza regions.
The Deputy President expressed optimism that Kenya can reach full middle-income status by 2030 if current programs in housing, healthcare, water, electricity, and transport continue to expand. “Nothing will stop us,” he said. “We are on course to grow this country with dignity, equity, and opportunity for every Kenyan.”
The event drew senior national and local leaders, including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, and Kanduyi MP John Makali. Also present were Deputy Governor Janepher Mbatiany and Presidential Aide Farouk Kibet.
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