The First Lady Rachael Ruto has underscored the urgent need for educational reforms in the country.
Speaking during the celebrations to mark the Day of the African Child at Mwatate Primary School in Taita Taveta County, Mrs. Ruto emphasised the transformative power of education and the need to embrace educational reforms for the benefit of Kenyan children.
Addressing the participants, who included government officials, parents, children, and other stakeholders, The First Lady highlighted Kenya’s significant strides in boosting education, including the recruitment of 30,000 additional teachers in 2023, a remarkable 272% increase from the 11,00 hired in the previous year.
She noted that this recruitment brought the total number of teachers employed lately to 41,000, a testament to the Kenya Kwanza government’s commitment to improving the quality of education.
“Kenya has made significant strides in advancing child rights and welfare, particularly in ensuring that our children get access to education. We must commend our government for the significant strides we have made towards achieving the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Education for all Children in Africa: The Time is Now,” as well as the impactful steps we have taken to improve the state of education nationwide.” she said.
The president’s spouse also celebrated the inclusion of 1.8 million additional primary school children in the school meal programme, which she said had boosted the transition rate from primary to secondary school from 84.5% in 2022 to an impressive 91% in 2023.
She noted that these initiatives are crucial steps to ensuring that every child in Kenya has access to quality education.
At the same time, the government has increased access to computers in learning institutions in the country, under the Jitume Digital Hubs programme by the Ministry of Information, Communications, and The Digital Economy, through the Konza Technopolis.
She stated that 83 Jitume Digital Hubs have been inaugurated, the latest being at Butere Girls High School in Kakamega County.
Additionally, the First Lady stated that the government recruited an additional 1300 trainers for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETs) in 2023, an increase of 22% from the initial 5833 trainers in 2022.
Besides, TVETs have since been allocated a Sh21 billion boost for tertiary higher education funding, while the Ministry of Education will receive an extra Sh28 billion increase in budgetary allocations for the 2024–2025 financial year.
“The county governments and various stakeholders in the education sector have equally achieved additional milestones, all aimed at developing systems that provide high-quality and pertinent education across all institutions, guaranteeing that no child falls behind. We are still making strides to ensure that all our children have access to the same quality of education, infrastructure, and facilities. We support the 100% transition at all levels, ensuring that every child enjoys tertiary training to equip them with the skills they require for economic productivity,” she said, adding that every child, regardless of their gender, social, economic background, or geographical location, has the right to a quality life.
Mrs. Ruto further stated, “We must protect our children from any threat of abuse. Let us leverage the toll-free National Child Helpline number 116 to report any cases of violence against children.”
Stressing the need to leverage technology to bring education to the most remote corners of our country, the First Lady urged stakeholders to foster partnerships with non-governmental organisations, the private sector, and international bodies to enhance educational infrastructure in the country.
On her part, National Chair of the National Council for Children Services Sophia Abdi Noor, commended the First Lady’s dedication, marking her presence as a significant milestone.
She lauded Kenya’s legislative progress, particularly Article 53 of the Constitution and the Children’s Act of 2022, which address children’s rights comprehensively.
“If we take Kenya, we have made a lot of progress in terms of the laws that are in place. I think in Africa, we lead the pack. In the Kenyan constitution, if you look at Article 53, the children’s issues have been holistically addressed. It has given children access to education, a basic necessity. It has also given the children the right to participate in any decision that affects them. It is nowhere else regionally,” said Noor.
However, despite these advancements, Noor highlighted the persistent challenges facing Kenyan children, including food insecurity, inadequate shelter, and barriers to education.
“Despite all this progress, children in Kenya are still facing challenges in terms of food, shelter, education, and violence against them, especially in early childhood marriages, child trafficking, female genital mutilation, and physical, mental, and social-emotional problems affecting them, within even their homesteads,” she said, adding that there is a need to consider children in the 2024–2025 budget.
“We want you to support us, so that our voices are heard and the emerging challenges are addressed,” she added.
The National Director for World Vision Kenya, Gilbert Kamanga, echoed the urgency of the day’s theme, praising the collaborative efforts of civil society organisations and the government in alleviating child suffering.
He emphasised the need for educational reforms that instill skills for integrity, accountability, resilience, and stewardship.
Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore’s message, delivered by Social Protection and Citizen Affairs PS Joseph Motari, reinforced the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable children.
Motari detailed initiatives like the Inua Jamii programme, which is supporting 1.2 million households, and the Niche programme, which provides essential support to pregnant mothers and young children.
The Presidential Secondary School Bursary Fund, which benefits an average of 20,000 vulnerable children annually, was also highlighted as a key effort in enhancing educational access.
“We are also building the capacity of the Directorate of Children’s Services to enhance its capacity to prevent counter-violent extremism and protect children against radicalization.
In the quest to realise the objectives of the care reform strategy, which seeks to promote family and committed best care for children, my ministry is also implementing the National Policy on Family Promotion and Protection, which includes the National Positive Financing Programme that seeks to promote the psychosocial and economic well-being of families,” said Bore in her speech.
The ministry, through various agencies, continues to provide social protection and welfare services to children, while operationalizing the Children Act 2022 and reviewing key policies to enhance children’s rights in Kenya, she added.
The County Governor Andrew Mwadime commended the government for choosing Taita Taveta County as the venue for celebrating the Day of the African Child, stating that this was a boost as it will advance the advocacy for children’s rights in the region.
Mwadime stated that water scarcity in schools remained a major challenge, urging the government to consider the Mzima Phase II project, which, he said, will solve the water challenges being experienced in the county.
“Remind the President because we’ve talked about it before, and he said he will put plans in place to ensure Mzima Phase II is completed, and we fully support that,” said Mwadime.
By Arnold Linga Masila
