As their peers continue with secondary education, some students who sat for KCPE in 2023 in Kisauni Sub-County are staring at a bleak future as they haven’t joined form one because of their parent’s financial constraints.
The children are thirsty for education to end the cycle of poverty in their homes. Some are at risk of being exploited sexually as they have started to engage in labour in a bid to save money to join secondary schools.
Some girls have started to do menial jobs and work as housemaids to support their families.
And now Sister Agnes Nanjala, of Sisters of St. Joseph, Mombasa, a social worker said they have met desperate parents with out-of-school children who want their children to get an education since January and has called upon such cases to reach them through telephone 0708059678 for further assistance.
“The children performed well in KCPE with 300 marks and above. Most parents are low-income earners, most are jobless, and even paying rent is a challenge,” said Sister Nanjala.
She added that the parents had been knocking on doors and looking for bursaries in vain.
The sister urged sponsors to assist the children to continue with education lest they start indulging in drug and substance abuse child labor, or early marriages.
Most of the children, Sister Nanjala observed have started to exhibit signs of depression. The parents are also at risk of depression seeing their children out of school while their peers are learning.
Patrick Kithi is a resident of Kisauni with three children. One is at university after he got a scholarship. He wants well-wishers to assist her daughter to join a secondary school.
Leah Mwenda got 279 marks in KCPE she says if she gets a sponsor she will hard and excel in academics to actualize her dream of becoming a teacher.
“I have two children one did her KCPE at Bedzimba Primary and got 340 marks and was called to Friends School Kikai Girls in Bungoma, but due to financial constraints I haven’t taken her to school. I do casual work on construction sites. The work has reduced affecting my income,” explained another parent, David Tsuma from Junda.
His efforts to look for bursaries have not borne fruits and is now appealing to a well-wisher to sponsor her daughter to continue with education.
Kahindi Koba, father of four children, a casual laborer said his son got 342 marks in KCPE and was called to Msambweni Secondary School, but couldn’t report due to lack of fees.
“I have looked for assistance in various offices in vain. I want my son to realize his dream of becoming a pilot,” stated Koba.
Emily Umazi’s dream of becoming a Journalist remains a pipe dream as she hasn’t joined a secondary school in the second term of the education calendar.
“I would like to continue with education to solve our challenges at home. I would wish to get a sponsor for me also to come back and assist my siblings and the society,” she said.
By Sadik Hassan
