Matiang’i Flags Education Crisis, Warns Of Rising School Dropout Risk
Politics Updated: 10 June 2026 20:09 EAT
United Opposition team led by DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Patriotic Front Leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Jubilee Party Deputy Party Leader Dr Fred Matiang'i and DAP-K Party Leader Eugine
The joint opposition-aligned briefing brought together Fred Matiang’i, Rigathi Gachagua, and Kalonzo Musyoka, with Matiang’i delivering a structured policy statement focused on education reform, fiscal management, and parliamentary engagement on the Finance Bill 2026.
He opened by stressing that public commitments must translate into tangible outcomes, positioning the address as part of a broader effort to influence national policy direction.
“Ladies and gentlemen, um, four points to be made in addition to what my colleagues have said. Uh, when we in public discourse and public meetings say that we are not just talking, the things we say can actually happen. We've demonstrated this year that they can actually happen.”
Matiang’i framed his first priority around national hope and education access, warning that current trends in school retention could reverse if urgent corrective measures are not taken.
“The fear I have, looking at the most current data, is that our dropout rate in schools could very easily have gone back to the Kibaki days because of the number of children who cannot access education.”
He argued that education policy must focus on removing financial barriers and restoring predictable funding to schools, including full implementation of capitation systems and elimination of informal charges affecting parents.
“We will provide real free education. … we will remove some of these irrelevant and unnecessary levies and restore capitation to schools so that school heads are able to manage schools without stress and without undue pressure.”
Matiang’i also called for urgent political consensus on education reforms, urging government to act within the current budget cycle to prevent further deterioration in the sector.
“On this one issue of education, it's necessary and we are asking the President and his government … time lost is too long in the education sector. We can have an all-parties conversation.”
He highlighted administrative continuity and referenced previous education initiatives, arguing that systems such as school health support must be restored alongside broader financing reforms.
“EduAfya will work, as we have demonstrated to you, so that parents don't have to be called and hustled when their children are sick in school.”
Shifting to governance, he emphasized fiscal discipline, arguing that national resources must be managed within realistic limits and that wasteful spending undermines development goals.
“Point number two: discipline is destiny. There's no way we are going to manage ourselves as a country outside of effective discipline. The level of wastage in government is unbearable.”
On legislative processes, Matiang’i defended robust parliamentary debate, stating that Finance Bill proposals must be openly scrutinized and adjusted through negotiation rather than passed without modification.
“we are a democracy, and democracy is government by deliberation. … you put it forward so that we deliberate it. We give you our views.”
He raised concern over tax increases, particularly on rental income, warning that such costs would ultimately be transferred to ordinary citizens already facing multiple statutory deductions.
“For example, if you increase tax on income from rent from 7.5% to 10%, all that is going to be passed on to tenants—the same ones who are paying SHA, the same ones who are paying the housing levy.”
He concluded by calling for inclusive governance and respectful engagement between government and critics, insisting that policy debate should not be dismissed but integrated into decision-making.
“We are human beings. We have views, and when we give these views, please take them. We are your brothers also. We are not expatriate Kenyans. We are Kenyans in our own right.”
Tags: DCP DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua Edit Editor's Pick Editors choice Eugine Wamalwa Fred Matiangi Jubilee Jubilee Party Kalonzo Kalonzo Musyoka Political Parties Political Party Political Partys Political Science Political tensions Politics Signs Signs Media Signs Media Kenya Limited Signs Tv Signsmedia Signst Signstv Signstvfao Signstvkenya United Opposition
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD