As students started reporting back to school, parents in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County have raised their concerns over the high cost of living.
Speaking to the press yesterday, Victor Kibet, a parent and also the chairman of Iten Bodaboda Sacco, said parents are finding it hard to pay school fees due to the current economic constraints.
“The current cost of living and continued disruption of the school calendar is becoming tough especially to us parents. We are even unable to feed the children at home because we don’t have sufficient food,” said Kibet.
Kibet added that with a presidential election petition in the offing, parents were worried that students may again be sent home in case the court orders a rerun.
“The decision that will be reached by the Supreme Court on the election petition may result in students going back home which may have an impact on us parents,” he added.
Another parent Susan Yego, a mother who was taking her daughter to school, said the sudden closing and reopening of schools was affecting their planning in this tough economic period.
“As parents, we have a big problem with sudden opening and reopening of school which at times has caught us off guard,” said Mrs Yego.
Mrs Yego has urged the incoming government to look at the situation the citizens are going through and lower the cost of living.
“I urge the government to consider us and lower prices of goods to enable us make ends meet,” she added.
Justine Kiplagat, another parent, urged the government to come up with a scheme to help students from humble backgrounds.
“We urge the government to pay at least 50 per cent of school fees for students from humble backgrounds, possibly through the chief and the sub chief,” said Kiplagat.
The pleading from the parents comes at a period when the country is about to transition to a new government which has promised to resolve the problems surrounding the high cost of living.
By Alice Wanjiru and Kipyego Amos
