KUPPET Criticizes Government’s E-Citizen Fee Collection Directive
Bungoma County’s Kuppet Chairman, David Barasa, has criticized the government’s directive for fees to be collected through the e-citizen platform, as announced by Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Belio Kipsang.
National Kuppet Secretary General, Akelo Misori, voiced that the decision was made without prior consultations.
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Addressing the press in Bungoma on Tuesday, Barasa expressed concerns that this move could lead to further turmoil in the education sector, already grappling with confusion regarding school capitation.
He highlighted discrepancies between statements made by CS Ezekiel Machogu and the reality faced by schools.
Barasa emphasized that the government’s digital fee submission would adversely affect schools that have relied on innovative income-generating activities (IGA) to sustain themselves.
He argued that methods such as providing labor, supplying materials, or donating animals in exchange for fees would be hindered by the e-citizen system.
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Questioning the government’s motives, Barasa suggested that all necessary information about schools is already available to authorities. He warned against the potential creation of fictitious accounts if additional data is requested from schools.
Additionally, Barasa underscored the financial challenges faced by schools due to insufficient capitation, which affects essential operations like purchasing chemicals.
He cautioned that centralizing fee collection would further delay remittances from the national government, exacerbating the financial strain on schools.
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KUPPET Criticizes Government’s E-Citizen Fee Collection Directive