Photo: Joseph Kanyi

Kenyan school girl: Educators and parents say they are paying education costs out of pocket due to delays in free education funding.

A Nairobi businessman has appealed to the government to urgently disburse the free education funds. While Knut entered into an agreement with the Minister for Education Mutula Kilonzo to call off the strike planned for last week, no money has since been released.

"Until the said monies are remitted and the headteachers are enabled to run their schools effectively, learning of our children will continue to be disrupted," said Francis Mwangangi of Kithiko Primary School in Yatta.

Mwangangi, who is Machakos county coordinator of the Wiper Democratic Movement, called upon political leaders and humanitarian institutions to support needy children, especially orphans, toaccess education. He made the appeal after making a two year sponsorship of Sh26,600 to St John's Kalyambeu Youth Polytechnic, Machakos County, in favour of Christine Ndunge Mutua. The girl had dropped out of school for lack of fees.

Mwangangi urged the Ministry of Youth Affairs to establish a technical training institute in Yatta district as well as building and equipping local youth polytechnics.

"Separately, I urge the government to increaseand send bursary directly to each school and I also activate the Cash Transferprogramme and introduce medical insurance for the elderly, needy widows andorphans," he said.