Senators back William Ruto directive on certificates
Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro leading proceedings on February 4, 2014. Senators are proposing that pregnant women from poor families be offered nutritious food by the national government during the entire nine months of pregnancy. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | FILE
What you need to know:
- Kitui Senator David Musila (Wiper) kicked off the debate on Wednesday when he made a personal statement thanking Mr Ruto.
- Mr Musila recently moved a motion in the House seeking to force headteachers to let go the certificates and asked the government to take action against those who failed to comply.
Senators on Wednesday threw their weight behind Deputy President William Ruto’s order for schools to release withheld certificates.
They dismissed demands by a teachers’ union that Sh14 billion in school fees arrears be cleared first, saying the money could be recouped through other means.
The lawmakers agreed that withholding certificates was frustrating students as they could not go further with their studies.
Dismissing the Kenya National Union of Teachers’ demand for fees arrears to be settled, the senators said students should not be punished for their parents’ failures.
KICKED OFF DEBATE
Kitui Senator David Musila (Wiper) kicked off the debate on Wednesday when he made a personal statement thanking Mr Ruto.
Mr Musila recently moved a motion in the House seeking to force headteachers to let go the certificates and asked the government to take action against those who failed to comply.
“The certificates are being held unlawfully. No school collapsed when the government asked them to release certificates in 2006. No school will be affected now. It is unfortunate that several young people missed the police recruitment because of certificates,” he said.
