The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has vehemently opposed the proposal by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to devolve education to the counties.

KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori, in a press address on Wednesday, argued that devolving education would weaken the sector, noting that counties are already struggling with health and early childhood education.

Citing the recent strikes in critical sectors such as health and education, Misori said Early Childhood Development (ECD) schools lack teachers, classrooms, and basic infrastructure, making counties unfit to run education.

“It’s abundantly clear that counties have struggled with critical service sectors, including health and education. Early Childhood Development and Education is dying a slow death under counties. ECDE teachers are the most poorly paid cadre in the public sector, earning less than subordinate staffers in most counties,” said the KUPPET boss.

“ECDE schools lack the necessary infrastructure across the board. Healthcare services are often interrupted by staff strikes, go-slows and perennial lack of medical supplies and equipment.”

The union insists that education must remain a national function, warning that placing teachers under the control of Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) would be disastrous.

Instead, KUPPET is calling on leaders to address long-standing challenges in the sector, including making public education free at all levels, increasing teacher promotions, and hiring more teachers to address shortages.

“Genuine national dialogue is needed to unlock urgent action on challenges facing the basic education sector, including the abolition of all bursary funds, scholarships and other financial aids in the education sector with a view to making public education free at all levels in Kenya,” MIsori stated.

“This would address the constant struggle by parents to raise school fees for their children at all levels of education. It would also end the perennial bickering between the government and school administrators over capitation disbursements.”

KUPPET also wants Junior Secondary Schools domiciled in secondary institutions to utilise existing facilities, and a gradual phasing out of boarding schools by 2030 to reduce costs and allow children to remain under parental care.

“Rather than waste time on a new campaign to amend the constitution, we urge political leaders to pressure the government into delivering services to Kenyans under its current mandate,” Misori added.