The government has assured families affected by the current drought in Garissa County that their children will be issued with bursaries.
Speaking today after a courtesy call to Garissa County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich, Devolution Chief Administrative Secretary Abdul Bahari said that the government has put in place measures to ensure that children from families affected by drought in the area get the necessary support.
Buhari urged the county governments in ASAL region to use their contingency funds to provide bursaries to children unable to pay their fees.
“The aspect of education is very important and that is why we are making sure that schools are opened and our children go back to school. We urge the counties to use their emergency kitty which were set aside during planning for contingencies towards bursaries,” Buhari said.
“This move will ensure that those who are joining form one and those continuing students are retained in school and their learning is not interrupted,” he added
Mr Cherutich said that the government is monitoring the children who are out of school and ways of providing support to the households.
“We are using our structures, the chiefs and their assistants together with the Ministry of Education to establish the number of children who are unable to join pre-unit, Grade one and form one. Once we identify the gaps, we will take action,” Cherutich said
“We are also recommending provision of bursaries to these children who are not able to pay school fees,” he added
The County Commissioner further called for peace talks to address the insecurities arising from the competition for pasture and water.
Garissa County Water CECM Abdi Omar said that the Garissa County government will set aside bursary funds which will be released in the next few weeks.
The drought in the county has caused movement of people from one place to another in search of pasture and water, affecting the school-going children who may be forced to transfer or drop out of school.
The livestock are getting weak or dying and their prices dropping making it hard for the parents who entirely depend on the livestock for a living, to afford school fees for their children.
By Erick Kyalo
