By Lydia Ngoolo
Makueni County Commissioner Beverly Opwora has revealed that 43 candidates are sitting for their national examinations while pregnant.
Out of the 43, one candidate sat for Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examinations, two sat for KCPE examinations and 40 are currently sitting their KCSE examinations.
Opwora decried the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy cases and at the same time warned men preying on school girls that they will be arrested and arraigned in court.
“It’s saddening and devastating for us to take exams to our children in hospital, reason, some are in labor and others have given birth during the exam period. How do you feel knowing very well you are the cause of that,” posed Opwora.
The Commissioner further revealed that in the period between October and December, there were 32 defilement cases in the county but thanked the courts for convicting some offenders adding that the police will continue arresting and charging them.
“Take your appetite off our children. We are not happy and however much you hide, be rest assured that the law will catch up with you,” she said.
Opwora called upon parents and all education stakeholders to empower, protect and engage their children especially during this long holiday to discourage idleness.
She was speaking during Jamhuri day celebrations at Mukuyuni primary school where Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Senator Daniel Maanzo, Kaiti Constituency MP Joshua Kimilu and Makueni Women Representative Rose Museo were present among other dignitaries.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior condemned pedophilic men adding that they will face the long arm of the law.
He called upon children to use this holiday well and help their parents at home.
Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili called upon the county commissioner to check on eight schools at Kiima Kiu Kalanzoni which are registered under Machakos county yet they do not belong there.
“Kindly return the schools to Makueni county since they have been suffering due to lack of support from either side. They did not even receive food donations made for schools,” said Mulili.
Senator Maanzo encouraged learners to put more efforts in education adding that it’s the only equalizer.
He also encouraged graduands to engage in social media positively by doing online jobs which will give them a livelihood as they search for job opportunities related to what they studied.
MP Kimilu noted that he is happy that junior secondary schools will be domiciled in primary but on the same breath noted that the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) is late and should be released so that they can issue to needy learners and build more classes.
