AU’sSpecial envoy and Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Tuesday, May 26, urged the government not to rush the decision to reopen schools revealing that the move could be disastrous.
On Saturday while speaking during the Seventh Presidential address on the coronavirus pandemic the eight-point economic stimulus programme, President Kenyatta said he was aware of the anxiety weighing on the minds of parents and their children in regard to when schools will re-open.
“We will in the very near future, be communicating, what plans and programmes we have for the education sector. In that regard, we have allocated an additional budget of Sh6.5 billion to the Ministry of Education,” said Mr Kenyatta.
ODM Party leader Raila was speaking in an interview with Milele FM at his home in Karen, Nairobi and touched on a number of issues including cushioning of those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
With the reopening of schools being a contentious issue in the country as the public are divided on the exact date when schools should be back in session, Raila noted that schools should not be reopened anytime soon.
“I don’t support that schools should be reopened just because of exams, between exam and life what is more important?
“Schools can be opened after one year and the current classes be rewinded, what’s the rush for? Where are they planning to take those candidates?” Raila Odinga advised.
According to the ODM Party leader, country depends on one final exam which would put some students at a disadvantage because of lack of access to learning materials citing that the government should exercise patience before schools are reopened.
Chairman of the Economic Recovery Team
On Friday, May 8, a number of political analysts who spoke to Kenyan Bulletin raised questions on Kenyatta’s relationship with Odinga, with one arguing that the new case of ODM MPs ganging up against Kenyatta indicated that Odinga was pushing for a position in power.
“Raila is being impatient and reports allege that he wants Kenyatta to create a position for him in government, a chief secretary role,” analyst Martin Andati stated.
A report by The Standard, on Saturday, May 9, detailed that there have been secret meetings between Odinga and Kenyatta, with looming changes in the Cabinet soon to be announced.
According to the new power lineup, Raila Odinga could be announced as Chairman of the Economic Recovery Team.
He will have an office at Harambee House, which houses Kenyatta’s official office, and will also have Cabinet Secretaries, Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs), Principal Secretaries (PSs) and parastatal heads report to him.
Last month, President Kenyatta, stated that the government was considering how it would revive the economy after the Coronavirus pandemic is curbed with various plans, dubbed Post-COVID-19.
“We are working towards formulating Kenya’s Post-COVID-19 economic recovery plan and we will be engaging all stakeholders in engineering economic policies in light of this crisis. The countries with the largest economies in the world are also in discussion with us on the issue of suspension of debts for a period in order to allow us to spend more in combating Covid and economic recovery. Our legislators should also consider proposal forwarded to them in the National Assembly,” Kenyatta stated.
In May 8, Jubilee Vice-Chairman David Murathe shed more light into the looming changes which Kenyatta and Odinga last discussed on the night of the very same day.
“Very soon, we shall have new formations which will unite Kenyans from all corners of the country irrespective of their political inclinations or the language they speak,” Murathe stated.
Deputy President William Ruto’s allies have been crying foul over the looming changes, Tiaty MP, William Kamket alluded that the changes are inevitable, adding that the Head of State was punishing the DP and his staunch supporters for constantly attacking him.
“The president has been quiet when they make noise, attack him and now it is time to act. He has waited for them to make true their threats and to walk out but they are hesitant. It is now time to kick them out, and it will happen very soon,” Kamket stated on May 3, 2020.
Jubilee Nominated MP David ole Sankok, while speaking with this writer on Saturday, May 9, argued that the President was within his constitutional rights to change the Cabinet.
“Uhuru will support Ruto in 2022. I have no issue whatsoever with Raila or any other individual being part of the Cabinet as the constitution allows anyone who is qualified, who declares their wealth, is over 18 years and has a certificate of good conduct to be nominated,” Sankok defended.
