By Malachi Motano
A section of parents in Bondeni area, Trans Nzoia County have faulted their colleagues for not supporting their children’s education and thus exposing girls to early pregnancies as their boy-child counterparts become boda boda operators.
Led by Newton Muganda, residents said some parents have not made education a priority, hence don’t even support teachers in improving education standards in the area. They also don’t co-operate with law enforcers in the area in fighting early pregnancies, and instead resort to trying culprits in kangaroo courts whereby victim’s parents are enticed with money to drop accusations against from perpetrators.
They said alcoholism, too, contributed to low education standards in the area as parents take illicit brews together with minors.
Edwin Wakasiaka Mwichabe, a principal in one of the local schools described education standards of the area as deplorable, claiming parents had absconded their duties of making sure their children get the best education.
He said early pregnancy cases in the area had risen among last year’s KCSE candidates.
“Most of the victims didn’t perform well in 2020 KCSE and parents have failed to ensure action is taken against culprits implicated in pregnancy cases as they collude with suspects in exchange for monies making it hard for the minor to get justice,” he said.
“Most parents here whose children are impregnated, after seeking a letter from our school go ahead and use the same letter as a cash cow soliciting funds from the suspects making it hard for a minor to get justice,” he said.
According to Mr Wakasiaka , the area administration also finds it difficult in apprehending the suspects as most of the area residents have dual citizenship and that upon engaging in such activities they run to a neighbouring country.
