Famine forces pupils out of the classroom
Education
By
Nehemiah Okwembah
| Sep 20, 2021
More than 60 per cent of pupils of Karimani Primary School in Bamba Ward, Ganze in Kilifi County have dropped out of school because of the drought ravaging parts of the Coast region.
The school’s headteacher, Christopher Sadi, said the number of pupils has gone down from 250 to 100.
At Mkondoni Primary School in neighbouring Malindi Sub-County, the situation is no different.
READ MORE
CS Chelugui disbands KUSCCO board over mismanagement
Funds misuse, low skills hamper Nairobi's bid to tap green finance
US envoy: How Kenya can be the Singapore of Africa via industries
Tea firm moves to address sexual abuse
Why tech experts are against regulation of fast-growing AI
Boost for farmers as state seeks to expand mango processing plant
Bridging the digital divide calls for inclusive development
Treasury to cut borrowing, spending on shortfall in revenue collection
State to shut down 25 entities, privatise others in new reforms
Why Kenya must move fast to invest in digital rights security
Esther Kahindi, the headteacher at Mkondoni Primary School, claimed there were several cases where children fainted during lessons because of hunger.
“I have had to allow most of my pupils complaining of hunger and being weak to stay away from school,” she said.
The headmaster called for the introduction of school feeding programmes.
Statistics from the Kenya Red Cross Society indicate that at least 200,000 residents are in dire need of food relief and water in the county. Most water pans and small dams have all dried up.
Teachers, parents, and other education stakeholders said the drought in various parts of Kilifi is now a threat to education as learners stay away from schools due to a lack of food and water.
Rodgers Kombe, a resident of Karimani village in Bamba, said the learners affected the most were those who trek for long distances to schools.
It has not rained in parts of Kilifi for the last two years. “Women and children are the most affected with many children skipping school to help their mothers look for food and fetch water several kilometres from their homes,” he said.
Ms Taab Karisa said she is forced to walk for more than 20 kilometres to get water because the nearby reservoirs have dried up. “We wake up at 4:30 am to search for water,” she said.
Other reports indicate that in Ganze Sub-County, two people have died because of starvation.
“It is a worrying situation for us since we are very willing to allow our children to attend school but hunger cannot allow us. They have to skip school and help us find food for the family,” said Safari Karisa, a resident of Mkondoni.
- Funds misuse, low skills hamper Nairobi's bid to tap green finance
- Forget miraa: Discovery of minerals stirs up Meru locals