Students during a lesson at the Kawangware Primary School in Nairobi. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
An MP has accused the Jubilee administration of tricking Kenyans that it will fully provide free primary and secondary education in 2018.Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime said the fact that most Form One students have not reported to school is a clear indication there is no free education in the country."Most schools in my constituency have not received all the students they admitted. Students are still out of school because of lack of school fees," Mwadime said.The lawmaker spoke four months after President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that the government had disbursed Sh6 billion for the improvement of 2,500 schools in preparation for the implementation of free secondary education.Uhuru during campaigns promised free secondary education in public schools from January 2018.“We want to ensure free education from Standard One to Form Four from January next year. The government has set aside Sh5 billion to refurbish secondary schools. From January no child will pay fees,” the Head of State said then.Parents, despite the promise, have numerously complained of the exorbitant rates they are required to pay for pupils' and students' personal belongings including uniform.