As their peers continue with secondary education, some students who sat for KCPE examination in 2023 in Kisauni subcounty are staring at a bleak future as they haven’t joined Form 1 because of lack of fees.
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 school.
Some girls are doing menial jobs as housemaids to support their families.
Sr Agnes Nanjala of Sisters of St Joseph, Mombasa, who is a social worker, said they have met desperate parents with out-of-school children who want their children to get an education since January.
She urged such familes to reach them through telephone 0708059678 for 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,” Sr Nanjala said.
She added that the parents had been knocking on doors and looking for bursaries in vain.
The Catholic nun urged sponsors to assist the children to continue with education, lest they start indulging in drug and substance abuse, child labour or end up in early marriages.
Most of the children, Sr Nanjala observed, have started exhibiting 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 his daughter to join secondary school.
Leah Mwenda scored 279 marks in KCPE examination. she says if she gets a sponsor she will work hard and excel in academics to actualise her dream of becoming a teacher.
“I have two children, one did her KCPE exam at Bedzimba Primary and scored 340 marks and was admitted 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,” said another parent, David Tsuma, from Junda.
His efforts to look for bursaries have not borne fruit and he is now appealing to well wishers to sponsor his daughter to continue with education.
Kahindi Koba, a father of four children and casual labourer, said his son scored 342 marks in KCPE and was admitted 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 realise his dream of becoming a pilot,” Koba said.
Emily Umazi's dream of becoming a journalist remains just that 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.