School Principals to conduct fresh KESSHA elections as Indimuli Kahi exits
KESSHA (Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association) Chair, Indimuli Kahi exited the teaching service early January this year and has left a leadership vaccum at the post primary heads body.
Mr.Indimuli, has served as the head of KESSHA for 8 years and was instrumental in addressing numerous issues and challenges facing the management of secondary schools in Kenya.
Fresh KESSHA elections will be conducted from the grassroots and will culminate in the national elections slated for July, this year.
The ‘lion’ KESSHA chair, Kahi Indimuli
During his tenure, Indimuli focused on improving the quality of education in secondary schools by advocating for better infrastructure, enhanced curricula, and increased resources. He was known for his tireless efforts in ensuring that students received a well-rounded education that prepared them for the future.
Under his leadership, KESSHA successfully collaborated with the government and other stakeholders to implement various initiatives aimed at enhancing the educational experience of students. These initiatives included the introduction of innovative teaching methods, the integration of technology in classrooms, and the provision of scholarships for vulnerable students.
Indimuli’s departure from KESSHA marks the end of an era for the association. His dedication and commitment to improving secondary education in Kenya have left an indelible mark on the education sector. His departure, however, opens up new opportunities for fresh leadership and innovative ideas to further advance the goals and objectives of KESSHA.
Indimuli’s legacy will be remembered for his unwavering dedication, passion, and drive to ensure that every student in Kenya has access to quality education. His efforts have undoubtedly contributed to shaping the future of countless young individuals and have positively impacted the education landscape in the country.
As Indimuli exits service, his contributions will not be forgotten. The educational community will continue to celebrate his achievements and strive to build upon the foundation he has laid. With new leadership in place, KESSHA will continue to be a driving force in transforming secondary education in Kenya and empowering the next generation of leaders.
The former chair will also be remembered for some sentiments and daring decisions he made as the Kessha spokesman were percieved and taken personal by some quarters within the government. At times he had to defend himself as an individual for the remarks made and even for appearing in the press without authorization from his bosses.
There has been disquiet within the ministry of education corridors on Indimulis bold actions that seem to have raised emotions. The issue of delayed capitation and the accrued capitation arrears of upto Kshs 54 billion owed to secondary schools by the government is one big in tray that Mr. Indimuli has left for his successor. Already Kessha had petitioned the concerned bodies including the National Assembly over the matter.
Addressing the 46th Kessha conference held in Mombasa last year Mr Indimuli stated that his colleagues were having challenges in managing schools due to the incessant increase in commodity prices and late disbursement of funds from the government. “Iam faced with a challenge when my colleagues say that we don’t even get 100 percent of the Sh22,244, how do we ask for more, and even the little one doesn’t come? How will it happen?” Indimuli wondered.
“When capitation is released and then the parents are told that we have now sent funds to schools and therefore no children should be sent home, it hurts us because, how do we feed them? How do we provide water and sanitation? Because once children come to my school it becomes my responsibility,” Indimuli said. He added “I know as a government you have various ways of funding budget deficit and you find ways of borrowing here and there to bridge that gap. As schools, we don’t have the leeway to borrow for our budget deficit.
Indimuli would not shy from getting involved in expressing his views on national matters that involved education. Towards the 2022 general elections, Mr. Indimuli found himself at the chopping board nearly angering the then establishment by his action of joining other education stakeholders to advice Kenya Kwanza Alliance to tone down on criticizing and politicizing education programs. While many of his peers were intimidated with show cause letters from the ministry and even freezing of association members dues by the employer Mr Indimuli took a step to engage the Kenya Kwanza camp by sensitizing the leaders in closed door meetings to embrace the proposed changes in the education sector with propable solutions. Mr.Indimuli was one of the key speakers at the education forum held by Kenya Kwanza at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) on June 23, 2022.
The forum resulted into Kenya Kwanza through the Deputy President now President William Ruto pledging support to the radical reforms proposed to revolutionize the education sector by signing to Kenya Kwanza Alliance Education Charter.
Through the education charter, Ruto agreed to introduce a one to two-year paid National Internship Program for all students graduating from learning institutions through a collaboration scheme, establish a National Education Fund to mobilise grants, bursaries, and scholarships from private and public sponsors to cater for non-tuition costs. Establish National Skill & Funding Council that amalgamate HELB, TVET, and University Funding Board.
Other proposals were employ 58,000 teachers for Ksh25 billion per year for two years to address the teacher shortage in the sector that had a shortfall of about 116,000 teachers. Establish more Vocational Training Centers in every ward plus ensure every constituency has a Technical Training and Vocational Educational Training Institution (TVET).
Ruto also promised to abolish delocalisation of teachers policy and adopt a new new policy that appreciates teachers as a national resource to be implemented with the entry level in employment infused with the nationalisation agenda.
This proposals which were presented by Mr Indimuli at the education forum attended by Dr Ruto, Hon Mudavadi Hon Wetangula and other notable Kenya Kwanza leaders seemed to have rattled some officials within the former government and Mr. Indimuli was summoned to the TSC headquarters to explain why he was using the heads association to engage in politics. It was a sigh of relief when Kenya Kwanza Alliance won the presidential contest in the last general election as Mr Indimuli fate and survival from the chopping board was guranteed. Will his star be dimmed with the exit or can it continue shining? Time will tell.
