Githunguri MP Njoroge Baiya said it was interesting that the President’s speech was silent on the supply of milk to primary schools while it was a major campaign issue for the Jubilee Coalition.
“Pangs of hunger do not know whether a child is in primary or secondary school and if we want to retain the children in school, we must provide them with food,” Baiya told the House.
Gwassi MP John Mbadi said the plan to introduce laptops to schools should not be rushed, as the most important issue for the pupils, especially in hardship areas, was provision of food.
“What is the use of providing a Turkana girl with a laptop when she is dying of hunger,” Mbadi wondered.
Bureti legislator Leonard Sang said teachers should be trained on the use of computers ahead of the introduction of free laptops to Class One pupils.
“The Government should also employ more teachers in line with the free primary education and mainstream Early Childhood Development. ECD teachers should be employed by the Government,” Sang said.
House of retirees
Nominated TNA MP Johnson Sakaja said more young leaders should be encouraged to vie for parliamentary seats so that Parliament does not become the “house of retirees”. Sakaja said streamlining youth and women fund in a manner that made it akin to the CDF would allow the economy to thrive.
Kangundo MP Maweu Kyengo said Kenya was one of the countries in the world that had failed to curb corruption and impunity, which he said were at an all time high.
He said the problems facing coffee farmers should be handled by the President the same way Deputy President William Ruto had done when he was the Agriculture minister.
By Vitalis Kimutai, The Standard
