Nearly 10,000 learners enrolled in primary schools sponsored by the African Muslim Agency across Kenya are unsure of their fate.
This is after concerted efforts by the Kuwait-based agency to privatise the 10 schools under its jurisdiction.
The schools have 1,000 pupils each and orphanage centres with 220 orphans in each institution.
However, parents and Muslim adherents have criticised the move.
In Marsabit, community members swore not to allow the agency to carry on with its plans.
Halima Abdi, whose two children are enrolled at the school, held that such conversation from public to private would be to the detriment of needy pupils.
Issa Mohammed wondered why African Muslim Agency, whose main mission is to provide education as a means to breaking poverty cycles among communities, would want to privatise their schools, closing doors to learners from underprivileged families.
However, African Muslim Agency Marsabit director, Ali Duba, assured the community that due diligence would be done and no needy children would be affected.
He said the move is informed by the continued increase of learners in AMA-sponsored schools, which risked lowering their academic performance
Deputy county commissioner
David Saruni public participation was conducted after
which the proposal was put to a vote.
“In the public participation, the majority of the parents strongly registered their dissatisfaction with the ongoing plans to privatise the AMA-owned institutions and massively voted against the idea, “Saruni said, adding that the determination of the matter rests with the Ministry of Education.
Apart from Al Hidaya, other schools include the AMA Primary School in Lamu county, Kilifi Centre AMA Primary, Modogashe Centre AMA Primary School in Garissa, the Wajir Centre and Al-Uweis Primary School in Mandera.
Others are Al Fowzan Primary School in Mandera,
Dawa Primary School in Isiolo, the Archers Post Centre in
Samburu and Muslim Primary School in Marsabit county.