Kajiado County The drought situation in Kajiado County remains a great challenge to the education sector as test and school attendance have dropped and most of the students are at the risk of missing the chance to go to secondary schools altogether.
National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) reports that more than 64, 000 families in the entire Kajiado County are suffering from food shortages, especially Kajiado Central and Kajiado West which are the two most affected sub, counties. Many families have been forced to move to other counties in search of pasture and water for their animals as the drought continues. This has greatly disrupted the children’s school attendance.
Oiti Village, Kajiado Central Sub, county, The public primary schools around this area have witnessed a low turnout since the resumption of schools. Teachers have explained that most of the children have been taken away by the parents to look after the livestock hence the children are left either without school or helping their parents in the activities that are necessary for survival.
Access to senior secondary schools has become a challenge to the learners as a result of the drought. Due to lack of school fees, around 40 candidates who sat last years Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) have not reported to their senior schools, raising the concern that they might drop out of school permanently.
Parents report that multiple drought seasons including the 2020, 2022 severe one have destroyed their livestock, their primary source of livelihood, hence their households have no income to even pay for the childrens education. The present drought has deepened the crisis of those families who are still piecing their lives together.
The people who are now pleading with the government and the responsible bodies to come to their rescue in time are very serious about their warning that without immediate help, the education of a whole generation of children in the county will be the sacrifice as communities face increasingly harsh humanitarian situations.
