Kenyan senators have clashed in parliament over the government’s response to the teachers crisis, which has run into its second week and centres around the amount of money set aside for the one laptop, one child policy.
The debate turned into a confrontation between senators from the ruling coalition and the opposition on whether the laptop programme should be foregone for teachers pay.
Standard Media has reported senators insisted the KSh54 billion (US$628 million) “ambitious” laptop project should be dropped and funds diverted to teachers who have suffered for from their bargaining agreement which has not been honoured since 1997.
According to Bony Khalwale, senator for Kakamega County, laptops should not be given out if the people who are going to issue the instructions are unhappy.
“Governments should have introduced computer laboratories in schools first then schools to decide which hour of the day and the week a particular class can go to that computer laboratory,” he said.
But members of the ruling coalition criticised their colleagues of capitalising on the teachers strike to fight the laptop project and gain political capital.
Paul Njoroge Kimani, senator for Kiambu County, defended the government saying that teachers could have still demanded better pay even without the introduction of laptop policy.
“Teachers did not go on strike because the government introduced the free laptop deal. We should be honest about it. Even if laptops have not been introduced, teachers could still go on strike to demand their pay,” said Kimani.
Nominated Senator Beth Mugo said: “I am shocked that even former ministers who were with me in the cabinet are now debating the teachers strike as if it is something new.”
Mike Sonko Mbuvi, MP for Makadara constituency, on the other hand supported the laptop policy and said it is a digital government and should not be politicised by members who are opposing the project.
“The issue of teachers’ payment and laptops are two different issues. My friends those who opposes laptop initiative are wrong and criticizing our government. We should not politicize laptops,” he said.
