The Department of Children in Kwale County expressed concerns regarding the significant number of children not attending school despite government efforts to achieve universal enrollment.
Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta Primary School, Msambweni children’s officer Johnstone Kivuli cited a 2019 UNICEF report indicating approximately 17,000 children were out of school. Efforts to locate and enroll these children resulted in around 7,000 returning, but many subsequently dropped out again shortly after enrollment.
Several challenges contribute to this situation, including financial constraints preventing families from supporting their children’s education. Additionally, some parents are accused of arranging marriages for their underage children, further exacerbating the dropout rates.
“Every child has the right to education and it is the responsibility of everyone to support their learning,” Addraya Dena, a judge working in Kwale, said.
Residents were urged to report parents engaging their underage children in labour and marrying them off to authorities for action.
