NAIROBI, Kenya — Former 2013 presidential candidate James Ole Kiyiapi has publicly supported former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s remarks on the mismanagement of public resources for school development, reigniting debate over education equity and accountability in Kenya.
Gachagua recently sparked national discussion by highlighting how some leaders have misused funds meant for local development, resulting in a lack of quality schools in certain counties, despite billions of shillings being allocated through devolution and other government programs.
“Some areas remain without good schools not because of lack of funds, but because resources have been diverted or poorly managed,” Gachagua said.
He emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and proper utilisation of public funds to ensure equitable school development.
Kiyiapi endorsed Gachagua’s point, stressing that the issue is structural and administrative, not tribal.
“We blame Rigathi for everything even when he states the obvious about equity. Why, for example, don’t we have top schools spread across the country? Why doesn’t my county of Narok — one of the richest in the country — have at least five top public schools with world-class infrastructure? The principle of equity is enshrined in the Constitution and it is not tribalism!” Kiyiapi said.
We blame @Rigathi for everything even when he states the obvious about EQUITY – why for example don’t we have top schools spread across the country. Why doesn’t my County of Narok – one of the richest in country – have at least 5 top public schools with world class
National Disparities and Corruption Concerns
Kenya has 204 national schools, but their distribution is uneven. Wealthier or politically connected counties often have several high-performing institutions, while other counties, including relatively wealthy regions like Narok, lack adequate representation.
Experts argue that mismanagement of resources and corruption has played a major role in the failure to develop schools in certain areas, limiting access to quality education for learners and contributing to regional inequities in academic outcomes.
Kiyiapi’s comments highlight the intersection of education equity, devolution funds, and accountability, noting that citizens have a right to demand transparency in the use of public resources for school infrastructure.
Affirmative Action vs Equity Debate
Gachagua has suggested reviewing aspects of the affirmative action system in national school placements, pointing out that while marginalized regions deserved preferential treatment in the past, misuse of resources in some counties has prevented children from accessing quality education locally.
Kiyiapi agreed, insisting that fairness and accountability should guide education development, rather than leaving learners disadvantaged due to corruption or mismanagement.
