State House comptroller Ole Metito urges Maa community to shun regressive culture

State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito (right) arrives at a ceremony to receive former Kajidiado West MP Moses Ole Sakunda who has defected from the Jubilee party to the United Democratic Party UDA. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

The Maasai community has been urged to shun some cultural practices and instead take their children to school.

State House comptroller Katoo Ole Metito said education is key to success and that no other best gift can be given to children.

Katoo said early marriages and teen pregnancies among girls, moranism and child labour among boys have been cited as retrogressive practices that are still rampant in Maasai land.

"Let us take our children to school since there's no other gift that you can give to your children. Education is key to success, let us embrace the culture of educating them and avoid the retrogressive one," he said.

Katoo spoke at Enkasiti Primary School, in Kajiado East Sub-County shortly after handing over a school bus donated by President William Ruto.

Katoo applauded the president for his continued support of education in the country.

"Despite many challenges in the government, our president has been at the forefront in making sure that the education sector is aligned, let us help him in this war," said the comptroller.

Former Kajiado Governor Dr David Nkedianye who attended the event, praised the President for being in the front line in education matters in the country.

President Ruto and his government has been fighting to make sure the children of this country get an education, we must support him in all ways," said Nkedianye.

It is estimated that in almost every family there is a minor married off or impregnated at a tender age.

These are among myriad challenges that propel an inferiority complex, and low self-esteem among the Maasai girls.

Kajiado County was ranked by the Ministry of Education as the county with the lowest 2024 Secondary transition.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu said the transition stood at 64 per cent.

Most primary schools in rural areas have few girls with only a small number sitting for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), owing to early pregnancies that have formed a big number of young mothers.