- Marginalised communities displaced from Rift Valley forests appeal for a special education fund to keep children in school.
- Led by Anna Siror and Margarett Bosuben in Kapsabet, groups say displacement and poverty have forced many learners to drop out.
- Communities demand a comprehensive resettlement programme, citing recent Maasai Mau Forest evictions in Narok that disrupted hundreds of learners.
Marginalised communities displaced from forests in the Rift Valley have appealed for the establishment of a special fund to keep their children in school.
The communities say years of displacement and economic hardship have made it difficult for families to pay school fees, forcing many children to abandon their education.
Speaking in Kapsabet, the groups, led by Anna Siror and Margarett Bosuben, said their plight had worsened since they were evicted from their traditional homes.
“Our children are suffering because of lack of school fees. Many have dropped out, yet they have dreams and the ability to succeed in life,” they said.
The communities said displacement had affected virtually every aspect of their lives, including access to healthcare and education.
They said establishing a special education fund would give their children an opportunity to continue with their studies and pursue careers of their choice.
“Our children can become professionals in different fields if they are supported. We should not allow poverty and displacement to destroy their future,” they said.
The communities also accused authorities of neglecting them since their eviction, saying their rights to basic services had been compromised.
ALSO READ:
TSC unveils new career path allowing teachers to reach Chief Principal grade
They demanded a comprehensive resettlement programme, arguing that many of the affected families had lived in the forests for decades.
“We have nowhere else to go. These forests have been our homes for many years, and we need the government to provide a permanent solution instead of leaving us without homes,” they said.
Their concerns come days after thousands of families who had returned to the Maasai Mau Forest in Narok County after missing out on compensation were forcibly evicted from the water tower.
The evictions have disrupted the education of hundreds of learners, with affected families saying children should not bear the consequences of disputes surrounding their parents’ homes and resettlement.
ALSO READ: Let KNEC set mid-term and end-term assessments to strengthen CBE
The communities are now urging the government to prioritise the education of affected children and ensure that displacement does not condemn another generation to a life without adequate educational opportunities.
“Our children deserve a future. We are asking the government to help them remain in school as it finds a lasting solution to our resettlement,” they said.
By Kimutai Langat
Get more stories from our website: Education News
To write to us or offer feedback, you can reach us at: editor@educationnews.co.ke
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
