By Tony Wafula
A civil society group has blamed the government for budget cuts affecting the realization of free education in the country. Speaking in Bungoma during the launch of the Day of the African Child celebrations at Masinde Muliro Stadium, John Mukenya, a representative of the Bungoma County Child Rights Network (BCCRN), noted that civil society groups are dissatisfied with the progress made by the government of Kenya in addressing children’s rights and sponsoring free education.
The Bungoma County Child Rights Network (BCCRN) is a local organization advocating for children’s rights in the Western region.
“As we gather here in 2025 to launch the Day of the African Child celebrations and reflect on the theme ‘Planning and Budgeting for Children,’ we look at the progress made since 2010. The civil society group is unhappy with how far we have come as a country because there has not been enough consideration for children,” he said.
Mukenya further stated that the government has not made adequate allocations to guarantee free and compulsory basic education. Schools are dilapidated, and heads of institutions are struggling with how to manage learners.
He revealed that after the review of the 2025/26 financial year budget, it was established that the government had not allocated any resources for school feeding programs.
“We also have concerns about the issue of examinations. The government has stated that it does not have money for examinations and assessments for our learners,” he added.
Mukenya emphasized that when the government commemorates the Day of the African Child, it should reflect on the struggles faced by South African children who fought against inequality and injustice in education. However, he lamented that, in Kenya, there are ongoing plans without adequately addressing the critical issues affecting education.
“We want to tell the government that it must commit to the promise of free and compulsory education in Kenya, as guaranteed by the Constitution,” he said.
The education advocate also urged counties to budget for pre-primary learning, arguing that Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) is the foundation of education in the country.
“When we see that there is no funding for pre-primary education, we are not building a firm foundation for our learners,” he stated.
Mukenya also criticized the government for failing to stock hospitals with immunization vaccines for children.
Speaking in Bungoma during the launch of the Day of the African Child, Principal Secretary for Children’s Welfare Services, CPA Caren Ageng’o, said that the day is significant as it allows the government to highlight the strides made in ensuring children’s welfare is well catered for.
“We hold this day in remembrance of the brave children who rose in a place called Soweto to oppose the apartheid education system, which was not inclusive and discriminated against these children,” PS Ageng’o said.
She mentioned that a total of 176 children were killed during the struggle.
To ensure children’s welfare is prioritized, CPA Ageng’o applauded the President for creating the Children’s Welfare Ministry to address children’s issues.
“The government is committed to promoting child protection and welfare. We have also developed strong policy and legal frameworks that uphold children’s rights,” she said.
Ageng’o affirmed that the government has prioritized budgeting for children’s healthcare and education.
“Out of the total budget for FY 2025/2026, which was recently presented in parliament (approximately 4.2 trillion), the majority is going towards education. This shows that the government is committed to supporting education,” she said.
