Grade 10 learners have started reporting to various senior secondary schools across Kwale County following president William Ruto’s directive allowing students to join school without fees and uniforms.
At Mvindeni Senior School, five learners reported on the first day without school uniforms and meal plans. Despite the challenges, the students were admitted and ushered into class as the school begins its new academic intake.
The school principal, Mr. John Kibui, said the institution would continue admitting learners as they report, while engaging parents to find workable solutions for those unable to meet school requirements immediately.
“We will continue to admit learners and plan with parents on how to reach a suitable meal programme for those who are unable to pay as they join,” said Kibui.
He added that learners reporting without proper senior school uniforms would be allowed to continue wearing their Junior Secondary School (JSS) uniforms until they are able to acquire the required attire.
Mvindeni Senior School has been allocated 450 Grade 10 positions and has so far admitted 177 learners.
However, even as reporting continues, several learners in the county remain stuck at home due to lack of school fees and other basic requirements.
In Mwachema village, twin brothers Abdalla Ali Ratili and Hamisi Ali Ratili have been unable to join Grade 10 despite securing placement at Kaya Tiwi Senior Secondary School. Abdalla scored 48 points, while his twin brother Hamisi scored 47 points in the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) at Mwachema JSS.
The twins have been forced to help their mother collect and sell firewood in a bid to raise money for tuition and other necessities. Their struggles, according to family members, have persisted throughout their primary and junior secondary education due to financial hardship.
Similarly, Joan Wathitha from Kwale County is yet to report to Karatina Girls High School in Nyeri despite the presidential directive.
Joan, who scored 62 points in her KJSEA at Mkwakwani JSS, was initially called to Alliance Girls High School but later transferred to Karatina Girls in hopes of affording the comparatively lower fees. However, the family’s financial situation remains dire.
Her mother, Pauline Wanjiku, said she has unsuccessfully searched for a scholarship to enable her daughter to join school.
“What I have secured for now is only a towel and I have not been able to raise money for other items that I am supposed to buy at home and others at school,” she said.
Wanjiku added that she was unable to transport her daughter to Nyeri due to lack of money, even after the directive allowing students to report without fees and uniforms.
The two live in a single rented room in the Kanuu area of Diani, where Wanjiku earns a living by washing clothes in residential estates. She said attempts to secure a loan to support her daughter’s education had also failed, leaving the family struggling to make ends meet.
“We sometimes go without meals,” she said.
Joan also revealed that she developed chest complications during her assessment period but had to sit for the exams while unwell due to her inability to afford prescribed medication.
In response to the growing number of students unable to report to school, Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has directed all 20 ward administrators, through the county treasury, to facilitate bursary support for Grade 10 learners yet to enrol due to lack of fees.
The directive follows reports of children from poor families in Kwale County missing out on their school placements because of financial constraints.
Speaking in Kinango, Governor Achani cautioned students against misleading parents while seeking bursary assistance, noting that the budget inspector is expected to approve the funds soon.
At the same time, she urged students who completed previous academic years but were unable to collect their examination results due to outstanding school debts to apply for bursaries to enable them to access their results.
By Chari Suche
