Bumula Member of Parliament (MP) Jack Wamboka has welcomed the court’s decision to have fee payment be channelled via e-Citizen platform halted.
On Wednesday, the high court suspended the circular issued by Education Permanent Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang requiring parents and guardians to pay school fees through e-Citizen platforms.
Justice Chacha Mwita gave the order following a petition filed against it by a Nakuru-based Dr. Magare Gikenyi.
Those sued are CS Treasury, CS Interior, CS Education, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Attorney General.
Justice Mwita in a ruling noted that the petition raised fundamental concerns warranting his directive to the move.
In his address at St. Leo the Great Catholic Parish in Kimilili on Saturday during a funds drive, DAP-K MP accused the state of imposing things on Kenyans saying that fee payment via e-citizen should be stopped once and for all.
Wamboka, in addition, argues that the move targets to lock out parents who pay fees in kind or those who supply items like animals to school for fee exchange.
“There are schools where parents offer labour and convert it into fees for their sons and daughters therefore when you introduce e-Citizen it will hurt many,” Wamboka said.
Wamboka’s sentiments were echoed by Bungoma County Kuppet Chairman David Barasa
The MP alleges that the President is plotting to present bills before the house that are going to press Kenyans further.
“When we resume house sittings, Ruto is planning to introduce a livestock bill where if passed tax will be deducted from farmers rearing cattle,” he noted, adding that Azimio MP’s will reject the Bill.
The first-term Member of Parliament called on the head of state not to be bitter whenever he is asked about the promises he made during campaigns.
MP Wamboka and President Ruto’s differences emerged at Nzoia Sugar Company during Ruto’s Western region tour where the MP lively lectured the President about the high cost of living and asked the President to deliver what he promised.
In his reply, Ruto trashed Wamboka’s call to have Nzoia get a new mill saying that the day MPs were scraping the company plied debts Wamboka was absent in parliament.
During campaigns, Ruto pledged to deliver a new mill at Nzoia Sugar Company in 100 days in office.
The MP has rallied all Azimio leaders in the region to reject the government’s proposal to have Nzoia sugar handed to private investors arguing that Webuye Pan Paper disappeared similarly.
“I will not allow Nzoia company to be given to the private investor, we similarly lost Webuye Pan Paper, I wish I was an MP those days I would have not accepted,” he said.
He noted that for now, Nzoia Sugar is the only company that Bungoma depends on.
After a church funds drive, Wamboka with Azimio MCAs held rallies on Mayanja, Chwele, Kimilili, Misikhu, Webuye and Bukembe markets where the legislators asked the Kenya Kwanza government to lower the cost of living.
