Matiang'i issues new clarification over school bus painting

juma chrispinus

January 16, 2018 10:49 AM

Matiang'i made the order on Friday.

Acting Education CS Dr Fred Matiangi clarified that already the government has met all the expenses which will be incurred by all public schools in painting buses in yellow color, with black writings as the dateline nears.

The CS, KNA reported on Tuesday, said that a section of the Sh29.5 billion released to schools by the government should be used to cater for painting school buses to yellow in line with his recent directive.

Dr Matiang’i explained that the first term cash transfers of free secondary education to schools was enough to allow change the colours of the buses to yellow. He cautioned principals against passing the cost to parents.

Concerns on funding

“The money will cater for repairs, fuels, travel as well as insurance. This item ordinarily covers painting of vehicles as part of the routine maintenance,” the acting CS said in a statement.

Matiang’i sentiments follow media reports expressing concern that schools may not have the funds to execute the order. The CS termed the concerns as misplaced.

Earlier, speculations were rife amongst parents who had expressed fears that the principals whose schools own buses would use the opportunity to swindle cash from them, even as the government insists that secondary education is made free.

On Friday last week, the CS said that all school buses will be required to be painted yellow with the school's name written on them in black, in a wide range of changes aimed at enhancing safety.

The new regulations are contained in the 2016 Traffic (Amendment) Bill passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday and is awaiting President Uhuru Kenyatta's signature.

According to the Bill, a motor vehicle designated to transport children to or from school, or for any non-school related activity, must be fitted with safety belts designed to be used by children.

The speed limit for all vehicles approaching schools has been fixed at 50km per hour. School buses will be barred from operating between 10pm and 5am.

juma chrispinus