I won’t take my son to Nothern Kenya National School, parent says

A parent in Kisii County has vowed not to take his son for admission to a national school in Nothern Kenya region where he has been selected to join form one in January 2017.

Mr. Momanyi, not his real name, says he would rather have his son staying at home than take him to the school.

 His son learned at a public primary school in Nyamache Sub-county and scored 350 marks in this year's KCPE exams placing him among candidates expected to join national schools.

He says his son learned of his selection to the school at a nearby market cyber cafe and rushed home to circle out its location on an atlas he had been using in his studies.

 "The selection has disoriented my son completely as the school was not among the ones he chose. He only learned of its location on the atlas I bought for him when I worked for a construction company in Garissa County," said Mr. Momanyi.

Momanyi had been in Garissa and Isiolo Counties working for a road construction company and confirms having fled the region after the Garissa University College attack leaving him jobless.

"I understand the region well, since I stayed there for a long time, I know it is not the best place for my young son to study," he added.

He narrates how his son had discouraged him from downloading the admission letter citing experiences he could narrate to the family in the rare occasions he came home from work.

“I could tell my wife and children the experiences we had in the area including how I left home and arrived Garissa on the night of the attack, " he said.

He added that it would be too costly for him and will not be at peace having his 13-year-old son far away just for secondary education yet there were schools near home.

He now hopes to secure a place at a school in the region where he feels the son will be guaranteed a serene learning environment.

This is despite the education CS Dr. Fred Matiang'i's warning to school heads against the admission of students independently.

"My son had chosen good schools, some are in this area and having ignored his choices is unfair and irrational," said Momanyi, while speaking to several parents who on Sunday flocked the sole cyber.

In the conversation, some vowed to secure admissions in schools in the area as they had a history of getting slots in institutions within the area as a way of benefiting the community.