The leader of the minority in the National Assembly, Opiyo Wandayi, on Wednesday, January 4, issued new demands to President William Ruto over school fee subsidies.
Wandayi asked the head of state to restore the program initiated by his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, lest Azimio La Umoja organises nationwide demonstrations.
He also warned Ruto against disbanding the Higher Educations Loans Board (HELB) without developing proper mechanisms to guarantee the continuity of student loan services.
"As President responds to concerns our raised December 31, Azimio reminds him that high school parents won't accept anything less than a return to school fees subsidy, a disbursement to HELB to facilitate students loans, and that all trained teachers be absorbed in January 2023," Wandayi tweeted.
According to Wandayi, Azimio La Umoja will revert to consultative meetings to rally parents against Ruto's move.
Wandayi noted that the school fee subsidy was very helpful to many parents who lost jobs or struggling to put food on the table.
He thus asked parents and students to protest against the program's removal at a time when Kenyans are grappling with a crippled economy.
On Wednesday, December 7, Azimio staged a declaration rally, during which, party leader Raila Odinga rallied his troops to a meeting at Kamukunji Grounds in Kibra.
At the event, Wandayi read what he called 'The Kamukunji Declaration'.
In the nine-point agenda, Azimio promised to push Ruto's administration to restore school fee subsidies.
Azimio resolved to forced Kenya Kwanza to restore school fees subsidies that significantly reduced the amount of money paid to institutions.
"We will return to Kamukunji Grounds, should President William Ruto fail to restores school fee subsidies," Wandayi affirmed.
