Kikuyu Constituency Member of Parliament aspirant Owen Ndung’u has outlined education reforms he says would help address the financial challenges facing Kenyan families and improve access to quality basic education.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Ndung’u said his experience as both a student and teacher had given him firsthand insight into the transformative role education can play in individuals, families and communities.
He said many Kenyan families continue to struggle with the cost of school fees, stationery, uniforms and other basic learning requirements, arguing that children should not be forced to miss school or drop out because their parents cannot meet these expenses.
Ndung’u, who is seeking to represent Kikuyu Constituency on a Democratic Congress Party (DCP) ticket, said that, if elected, he would advocate for legislation and policies aimed at guaranteeing every Kenyan child access to free and quality basic education regardless of their family's economic circumstances.
Proposed Reform of the Bursary System
A key part of his proposal is the reform of Kenya's existing bursary system.
Ndung’u criticised what he described as a system that often requires parents to move from one office to another seeking financial assistance from different leaders. He argued that education support should be based on clear and transparent criteria rather than an individual's political connections.
He proposed consolidating existing bursary schemes into a unified national education support kitty administered through the Ministry of Education.
According to Ndung’u, such a system should have clearly defined eligibility requirements and accountability mechanisms to ensure that assistance reaches children who genuinely need it.
He also called for education support to "follow the child" rather than depend on political connections.
Annual Costing of Education Needs
Beyond bursaries, Ndung’u proposed that the government institutionalise the annual costing of education needs as part of national education planning and budgeting.
He argued that determining the actual cost of providing quality education each year would enable the government to plan more effectively and allocate resources based on evidence rather than relying on ad-hoc interventions.
Under his proposal, the Ministry of Education would undertake comprehensive annual costing and planning for the education sector, while Parliament would continue exercising its constitutional responsibility of scrutinising and approving public expenditure.
Ndung’u said the approach would help shift education support away from individual political intervention and towards institutional systems.
"Our parents should not have to plead with elected leaders for assistance using money that ultimately comes from taxpayers," he said.
He maintained that education should be treated as a long-term investment rather than a favour extended by political leaders.
As the country approaches the next General Election, Ndung’u said voters should demand leadership focused on building functional public systems rather than relying on individualised assistance.
He concluded by calling for a Kenya where children have equal opportunities to learn, develop and fulfil their potential regardless of their family's social or economic circumstances.
Ndung’u is currently seeking the DCP nomination to contest the Kikuyu Constituency parliamentary seat in the next General Election.
References:
Quality Education for Every Kenyan Child