President William Ruto has revealed that the government will commit an initial Kes 1 billion to construct 3,500 classrooms in Nairobi to ease the congestion of learners.
Speaking during his meeting with education stakeholders at the Kenya Institute of Special Education in Kasarani, Nairobi.
"We committed that we will build 5,000 additional classrooms; I have a billion shillings for Nairobi to build 3,500 classrooms that the national government has committed to build...too many children are not going to school due to lack of classrooms," said Ruto.
The Head of State noted that there is a challenge of an influx of learners who have to scramble for the few facilities available to quench their thirst for education.
"When I was MP I had about 130 schools, and that is for only one constituency, but in Nairobi, about 200 schools in 17 sub-counties to serve a population of 4.5 million learners… this is a big crisis," the President said.
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On his part, Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja affirmed his commitment to work together with the National government to provide learning facilities.
"We will work together to provide 1,500 classrooms...you have supported us in 3,500," he said.
Additionally, Ruto announced that the government has increased the budgetary allocation for the school feeding program to Kes .5 billion to keep more learners in school.
"We increased from Kes 1.5 billion to Kes 5 billion and Parliament has approved. As the government we are targeting 4 million children," he stated.
Ruto also expressed optimism with the recommendations of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, which he said will be pivotal in improving access, equity, and quality in delivering education to children.
"We are already implementing some of the report's recommendations, and our lawmakers are deliberating on the proposals that require policy and legislative changes to unlock their full effect," the President said
