Keiyo North Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Julius Maiyo has called on parents to use farming proceeds to pay school fees for their children.
Maiyo said despite the area being rich agriculturally with three agroecological zones, parents are unable to pay school fees even for the day scholars whose fee is very highly subsidised by the government.
The DCC who was addressing residents after reading the presidential speech at Mindililwo Primary School during celebrations to mark this year’s Jamhuri Day celebrations, said it was sad that the area experienced a bumper harvest this season as a result of subsidised fertiliser, but most parents have already sold all the maize.
“You will find a parent who harvested 100 bags of maize still looking for bursary having sold all the maize. I want to remind you that even as you celebrate, remember January is round the corner,” he said.
The administrator also appealed to parents to balance the payment of school fees for all their children saying most prioritise payment of school fees to children admitted to schools outside the county while neglecting those admitted to nearby schools.
He also appealed to parents to take care of their girls saying cases of teenage pregnancies have been reported, which deal a blow to the education of girls.
Addressing the same occasion, the area OCPD Patrick Njoroge also called on parents to talk to their boys saying young men found to have impregnated underage girls will face the full face of the law.
Njoroge said while the bodaboda sector has employed many young people, many of them are finding themselves on the wrong side of the law after being found to have defiled school children.
“Many of them offer schoolgirls, especially day scholars free transport to and from school. Ask yourself as a parent, how is such an offer paid back?” he posed and called on parents to talk to both their boys and girls.
The OCPD also called on parents to keep track of their children saying some go home with electronics like phones and laptops which the parents have not bought. He advised parents to report their children to authority whenever such cases arise, so the source is established and if it’s out of crime, the children can be legally disciplined.
He said the DCI was tracking such stolen properties and if their children are found with them, they will be arrested.
Maiyo called on those opposing the establishment of a university in Tambach to await the report by the task force adding that a university does not only offer academic services but also leads to development in the area, offering jobs both directly and indirectly.
By Alice Wanjiru
