Kimani Ichung'wah, MP Chonga Clash In Parliament Over Education, Grammar: "You Don't Do PhD, You Study"

• The members of the National Assembly were on Thursday, August 24, deliberating on varied reports
• The one that got the attention of Kilifi South's Ken Chonga was that on university education funding; he questioned the criterion the government would use to actualise the model
• Kikuyu's Kimani Ichung'wah, who had represented the report, came up to chide Chonga over his comprehension skill, irking him in the process

Nairobi - Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah chided his Kilifi South colleague Ken Chonga over his comprehension after the latter's interrogation of one of the reports under deliberation in the National Assembly.

This time, the lawmakers were deliberating on a report on education, specifically about the new model of university education funding, when the two started taking on each other.

After Ichung'wah's presentation of the report, Chonga wondered about the criterion the government would employ to decide which students genuinely needed state funding.

"What parameters will the Ministry of Education use to determine which student is needy, extremely needy, and vulnerable?" he posed.

His argument provoked Ichung'wah, who suggested the lawmaker had not read and comprehended the report under discussion.

Ken Chonga: I'm doing Ph.D

The Kikuyu MP even referred him to Nyando MP Jared Okello for proper guidance, given that the latter sat in the departmental committee on education.

"If he has difficulty in reading, he could consult Jared Okello who was in the Education committee. I have just tabled the document for everyone's benefit. It is 48 pages long and covers all the issues he (Chonga) talking about. The CS has already addressed all those matters," said Ichung'wah.

The majority leader's remarks irked Chonga who rose on a point of order, first to prove that he was properly schooled and for Ichung'wah to take back his remarks and apologise.

"I want to make it very clear in this house that I went to school. I am a holder of a Master's in Business Administration and I am doing a Ph.D. It is an insult for him to claim that I have a problem of reading. What is it that I need to have for you to know I went to school? Kindly, may the majority leader withdraw that statement because it is total insult to a member of parliament," said Chonga.

Chonga cornered again

Ichung'wah would, however, not lower his guard, hitting Chonga with another salvo.

This time, the majority leader took issue with his colleague's grammar.

Ichung'wah suggested that Chonga had gaffed when he said "I am doing a Ph.D".

"I don't know why Chonga is getting so irritated and I only said if he had difficulty in doing this report. Now he is telling me he is doing his Ph.D. How do you do a Ph.D?" posed a bemused Ichung'wah.

"You can only be attending classes, or studying a Ph.D. You can not do it. Or maybe he was translating it from Swahili," added Ichung'wah as he sent the house into a moment of laughter.

New university funding model

As per the new criteria for funding tertiary education learners, the government specified grants and loans would be given to those in genuine need.

The new model sanctioned by President William Ruto will see the students apply for funding unlike previously when anyone qualifying for tertiary education gets funded automatically.

The government scholarship will be based on the actual cost of the program undertaken by the student in question, and also their financial needs.

Those running after the funding must apply through www.hef.co.ke and submit an application every year for the course duration.