‘Not every parent pays fees with chicken,’ Kamukunji MP argues as he defends eCitizen directive

In a panel interview on Citizen TV, Hassan was questioned on the implication that the directive will have on parents who do not pay fees in cash, but through trading farm produce with institutions. 

Hassan termed the concerns a ‘weak argument’ as majority of parents trade in cash. 

"That is a very weak argument in the sense that every parent doesn't pay fees in chicken or batter trade. We are a state that is modernising, we are a country that is modernising. Everybody is in M-PESA. There is no adult Kenyan who doesn't have an M-PESA,” said Hassan.

The Kamukunji legislator further argued that the parents have options to sell the goods and use M-PESA to pay school fees instead of taking the goods to schools.

“We have a free market system you can convert your maize or whatever into cash, put it in M-PESA and pay the school fees rather than lining up and going to school, wasting a lot of time. The convenience, why would you want to go to school 5 or 10 km when you can use your M-PESA or your phone,” he said, adding that the “teething problems that can be resolved through administrative action, for me I don't see any rational reason."

Hassan also allayed fears of hitches in disbursing money from the ministry to schools. 

“That is a factor that the ministry of education should sort out, it is their responsibility. They should be able to disburse the money as soon as possible. And if there are delays of course it will bring our schools to a halt,” he said.

The MP further argued that claims that the directive is irrational only affects the efficiency and effectiveness of the governing system. 

“The president is not going to suffer he is seated in state house, doing his own business. It is the parents and the teachers and students who are going to suffer.”

The government released a memo on January 31, which directed the national school principals to share their bank account details with the office of the State Department’s Director General.

The Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang stated that this was part of the government’s efforts to enhance service delivery by on boarding all government services on the platform.

The High Court, on February 7 suspended the directive pending further directions on February 13, 2024.

“An interim conservatory order is hereby issued suspending the Circular or letter by the Principal Secretary (Belio R Kipsang), Ministry of Education dated 31st January 2024, requiring parents/guardians and or students to pay fees and or any other levies for all government learning institutions through e-citizen platform or any other digital platform(s) until 13th February 2024, when the court will issue further directions in this petition,” ruled the judge Chacha Mwita.