By Brian Kaleti
Parents in Kiambere ward in Mbeere South sub county have called on the government to consider distributing relief food in schools to help children.
They lamented that there has been increased school drop outs due to the biting hunger.
Teachers in the semi-arid region also say that they have been encountering difficulties when teaching the children as many are sleeping in classes.
“We have a big challenge, students here are sleeping in class, absenteeism is now normal and in large numbers,” said Margaret Njoki a teacher in Kiambere.
Njoki who is an ECDE teacher in the area noted that many schools were experiencing students collapsing while on parade due to famine as many get meals once in a day which is not even enough.
She urged the government to move with speed and distribute food in schools.
Speaking when they were receiving food donation from Kiambere Ward Community Based Organization at Mutuobare market they said many children risk being affected by diseases cause by malnutrition due to lack of food.
Stephen Ngari a resident of Kiambere wondered why the government had delayed in distributing food in the area despite complaining for long.
He said the area has for the last three consecutive seasons received below normal rainfall making locals to experience poor harvest.
Mary Kalunde also a resident said many children had turned to sand harvesting because this gives them instant money which they use to buy themselves food.
She stated that education in Kiambere was at risk due to hunger.
“We don’t know what we shall do now that this famine has reached a level that we cannot manage, it’s really hard to look for food and our children are suffering,” said Kalunde.
Kalunde also stated that many girls who drop out of school turn to early marriages which are also a tragedy to education in this area.
