- MP Steve Mogaka has accused Ministry of Education officials of unfairly excluding national champions from Mobamba D.O.K Primary School from performing at the State House Gala.
- The pupils won position one nationally in Class 1012H with a self-composed folk dance celebrating African culture and traditions.
- Mogaka has pledged to push for the matter’s resolution in Parliament, seek a meeting with President Ruto for the pupils, and turn Mobamba into a centre of excellence in music and drama.
West Mugirango MP Steve Mogaka has accused some education officials of unfairly denying pupils from Mobamba D.O.K Primary School an opportunity to perform at the State House Gala despite emerging national champions in the just-concluded Annual Music Festivals held in Bungoma County.
Speaking at Mobamba D.O.K Primary School during a celebration held in honour of the pupils, Mogaka said the children had been hurt and disappointed after they were left out of the performers who proceeded to the State House Gala. The pupils emerged in position one in Class 1012H, presenting a self-composed folk dance that promotes the preservation of African culture and traditions. Mogaka said the achievement demonstrates the importance of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system in identifying and nurturing talent among learners.
Mogaka accused some officials within the Ministry of Education of engaging in what he termed “monkey business” and disadvantaging the pupils. “I have sponsored these children with my own resources, and they have become national champions. Yet somebody in the Ministry of Education is doing monkey business and disadvantaging these children,” Mogaka said. The MP said he had already raised the matter in Parliament and questioned how Mobamba could be left out of the list of performers at the State House Gala despite winning at the national level.
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He maintained that the children deserved an opportunity to showcase their talent and said he would continue pushing to have the matter addressed. “An injustice to one is an injustice to all. An injustice to the children of Mobamba is an injustice to all children and parents across Kenya. We must right that wrong and allow this piece to be presented so that the whole country and the world can see the creativity of our children, the prowess of our teachers and the support given by their parents,” he said.
Mogaka encouraged the pupils not to give up after the setback, promising to explore ways to help them meet President William Ruto so their historic achievement can receive recognition. He presented the pupils with a token of appreciation and urged them to continue developing their creativity and talents.
Looking ahead, Mogaka pledged to make Mobamba a centre of excellence in music and drama, promising to support the school with musical instruments and other resources. “When you reopen the school in January, I will bring here musical instruments that will be used by our constituents in West Mugirango. We will make Mobamba a centre of excellence in music and drama,” Mogaka said. He further called for the children’s talent to be exposed to a wider audience, including national and international musicians and artists, saying the pupils’ success reflects the commitment of their teachers, parents and the learners themselves, and that their creativity should be nurtured rather than discouraged.
By Elizabeth Angira
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