Babu Owino Rubbishes William Ruto's Education Reforms: "Punishing Mama Mboga"

• Babu Owino has criticised the education reforms proposed by President Ruto's working committee, saying they are too expensive for parents
• Babu asked the government to bolster the Higher Education Loans Board to help students from less privileged families
• He said that the proposed education reforms will make university education too expensive for parents, especially "mama mboga"

Nairobi - Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has faulted President William Ruto's working committee on education over proposed reforms in the sector.

Babu rubbished work done by the education task force appointed by Ruto, saying their job did not reflect what Kenyans should do.

"Today, I want to talk about the education system in Kenya. And the current curriculum that the team has just approved that President Ruto appointed to come up with means by which education can be improved in Kenya," Babu said.

Babu Owino: Education is becoming too expensive

The lawmaker complained that paying KSh 200,000 to join campus was too expensive for parents, especially the mama mboga the William Ruto government promised to help.

"The job they did was pure nonsense because you are approving that the lowest student in this country that will join the first year, the least amount of money this student will pay is KSh 200,000 to do a social science related course or arts," he said.

He said university education was becoming too expensive for the common mwananchi.

"By the time this student is done, the parent should have parted with KSh 800,000. How can a mama mboga getting an average of KSh 200 per day get KSh 800,000 in four years, and get 200k in one year? Are we not punishing them?" he posed.

He asked the head of state to bolster the Higher Education Loans Board to help students from less privileged families.

Education reforms: Gov't scraps term 'secondary'

On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, the head of state announced the country’s education system will undergo immediate changes.

This followed the launch of the report of the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform at State House Nairobi.

He said the new system will inculcate innovation and facilitate learners to explore their talents.

“Education is central to our human capital development. That is why the Kenya Kwanza government is intentionally investing in quality education,” Ruto said.

He explained that the government will ensure quality, inclusive, and relevant education.

“We will routinely sharpen and make it better to help learners fulfill their potential,” he added.

The president also asked stakeholders to focus on implementing the report’s recommendations.