The Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) Mr. James Torome has called for abstinence from retrogressive cultural practices.
Speaking during a funeral ceremony at Nairegia Enkare in Narok County, Torome blamed the outdated traditions for hindering the education of Maasai Community’s children.
Mr. Torome cited outdated cultural practices, such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early marriage, and moranism, as major impediments to Maa-speaking community’s children’s education.
He expressed concern that these practices disproportionately affect the girl child, limiting their opportunities and leading to high school dropout rates.
While calling on the community to embrace modernity by taking their children to school to gain education, the unionist further advised the young men to watch out against being lured into drugs and criminal activities that can easily land them in jail.
He instead called on the young men to engage in creative adventures like farming, livestock rearing and small businesses that can earn them money.
“We should embrace education and ensure our children attain education to be relevant in the modern world. Both girls and boys should go to school, as the government has offered a free basic education program,” he said.
Mr. Torome spoke during the burial ceremony of Mama Peris Kasaine where he encouraged the young men and elders to be on the front line in shunning Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a measure to end the retrogressive practice in the county.
“The government has already declared war against FGM. I want the community to help end the practice by ensuring no young girl is cut,” he said.
“Earlier on FGM and early marriage was embraced in our culture, but the practice is slowly fading because it has been discovered it doesn’t add any value to the girl-child,” said the unionist.
The KUSNET Secretary General challenged church leaders to be committed in promoting unity and holding those in power to account, saying religious leaders have a duty to promote unity and call out misconduct in leadership.
He cautioned religious leaders against politicizing the pulpit, urging them not to allow politicians to turn churches into arenas for political battles.
Mr. Torome accused a section of political leaders of using church platforms to spread insults, hate and divisive politics.
He called for national unity, peaceful coexistence, and issue-based politics to foster development and reduce ethnic tensions.
“Where there is unity, God commands a blessing. That is why we want all of us to unite and work together, so that God will bless us,” he said.
Nominated Member of Narok County Assembly Ms. Josephine Seneiyo urged politicians and youth in the country to exercise restraint and promote peace ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Jubilee Party-affiliated MCA urged political leaders to tolerate and embrace divergent views and opinions for the sake of peace in the country.
Ms. Seneiyo said to sustain the prevailing peace and enhance democracy during campaigns and the forthcoming polling, Kenyan leaders, especially the political class, require a high level of tolerance to divergent views.
“Where there are divergent views or opinions, our leaders should learn to seek civil ways to resolve the differences instead of using political platforms to utter negative utterances with undertones that may insinuate humiliation to any community,” she said.
MCA for Keekonyokie Ward Mr. Lemiso Kimiti indicated that although every Kenyan has a right to freedom of speech as enshrined in the constitution, the freedom should not infringe on the rights of other people.
While voicing his respect for the presidency, Mr. Kimiti called on all aspirants for the country’s top office to respect President William Ruto and urged politicians to refrain from insults, particularly those targeted at their rivals, the Head of State, and other leaders, stating that anger does not justify offensive language.
He rallied presidential aspirants to respect the presidency even if they do not like the occupant of the office as a person.
“President William Ruto is the symbol of the country’s unity. He is the commander in chief of our Kenya Defense Forces and as such, deserves respect. You may be his political competitor but the presidency must be respected,” Mr. Kimiti said.
He called for diligence and responsibility in leadership, urging leaders to prioritize accountability in addressing the country’s pressing challenges.
Mr. Kimiti said that the country has moved away from politics based on division, hatred and insults and is now focusing on honest and meaningful leadership, focused on bringing Kenyans together and creating opportunities for everyone.
Narok County ODM party Branch Chairman Mr Robinson Torome Nalengoyo, popularly known as ‘Kaza Roho’ urged the top brass in the movement to accommodate divergent views, declaring that “democracy does not mean chaos.
On the proposed political pact with the United Democratic Alliance and ODM, Mr. Nalengoyo urged his party to put its house in order before entering any coalition agreements ahead of the 2027 General Election.
By Emily Kadzo
