Kakamega County’s education sector is bracing for significant setbacks in the 2025/2026 County Annual Development Plan (CADP) due to major budget cuts affecting numerous projects.
This situation was highlighted during a public participation forum held at the Kakamega Social Hall on November 5, 2024.
Notably, the school support programme aimed at completing ongoing secondary school projects initiated by the previous county administration has received no funding.
In contrast, the infrastructure development for Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centres—previously unplanned—has been prioritized, receiving a substantial boost with a budget of Ksh292 million.
However, other educational initiatives have suffered dramatic reductions.
The ECDE tuition allocation was slashed from Ksh125 million in the 2024/2025 CADP to Ksh80 million, attributed to budgetary constraints.
Ongoing infrastructure development for ECDE centres also faced cuts, dropping to Ksh83 million from Ksh240 million. Renovation funds were reduced from Ksh24 million to a mere Ksh10 million.
The Ward-based bursary was cut from Ksh240 million to Ksh180 million for similar fiscal reasons.
Helemina L’lanziva, MCA for Isukha North Ward, emphasized that the county government should focus on its constitutional mandate regarding ECDEs and county polytechnics, suggesting that secondary education funding should fall under the national government’s purview.
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Furthermore, the County University Education Scholarship was trimmed from Ksh25 million to Ksh19 million. Other programmes, including the County HELB Loan Scheme, ECDE feeding initiatives and various infrastructure improvements, received no funding at all.
During the public forum, community members urged Governor Fernandez Barasa to prioritize the completion of stalled projects before launching new initiatives.
Bonface Osanga, chairperson of the Finance and Planning Committee in the Kakamega County Assembly, promised to consider public feedback and called for the prioritization of remaining projects to ensure tangible benefits for residents.
Community leaders, including Edward Wambani, Paul Odongo and Betty Naware, echoed Osanga’s sentiments, firmly opposing proposals for allocating funds towards constructing residences for the Governor and Deputy Governor.
As the budgetary landscape shifts, the Kakamega community remains vigilant, advocating for a focus on completing essential educational projects that directly impact their youth.
By Calistus Imbayi
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