Don’t send students home for lunch money – Governor Kihika to Day school principals

Written by Roy Lumbe

Day Secondary School heads in Nakuru have been cautioned against sending students home for failure to pay lunch fees.

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika revealed that her administration is committed to keeping students at school adding that there are plans to chip in and assist parents to cover the needed money.

Speaking in Visoi Ward in Rongai, Kihika said the county was working on modalities in the next financial year to ease parents’ burden of paying the lunch fee.

“I want to appeal to school heads not to send students home due to lunch fees which stand at Sh4,000, the county will pay Sh3,000 and parents top up Sh1,000 to ensure students remain in school,” said Kihika.

She reiterated that no student should be denied a chance to pursue education because their parents cannot afford the lunch fee saying her commitment to promoting education was top of her agenda.

Today, she issued cheques to students from Visoi, Menengai West, and Mosop Wards.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the scholarship programme saying it will go a long way to ensure they remain in school.

Emmanuel Kuria from Kimango Day Secondary School expresses his delight in being among the beneficiaries saying the governor is doing a commendable job through the provision of bursaries.

“The programme has allowed students to stay in school, we don’t take that for granted, I was not able to join my dream school Kapsabet Boys due to financial strains, but I will work hard to become a doctor,” said Kuria.

Kuria, a 14-year-old student scored 370 marks in his KCPE exam unfortunately he did not make it to join his dream school, however, governor Kihika pledged full support in full realization of his dreams.

Purity Moraa from Mawe Secondary School said children from needy backgrounds will now be able to study.

Present at the event included Education Executive Zipporah Wambui, a host of MCAs, and education stakeholders.