Over 30 schools in Garissa receive relief food

Government has distributed relief food to schools in Garissa to cushion parents who are facing the burden of pay fees amid biting drought.

Speaking during the opening of Tumaini Secondary School in Garissa Township, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale said the government has disbursed about 5,000 sacks of relief food to over 30 schools in Garissa Town.

He said many parents in Garissa County are unable to pay school fees for their children as a result of prevailing drought which has made many of the locals, who are pastoralists, unable to find market for their livestock.

“As a government we want to do all [we can] to ensure that no child will drop out of school due to lack of fees during this time of dry spell,” he said.

Mr Duale said due to the ravaging drought, several schools in north eastern region are reporting defaults in fees payments.

BUY WEAK ANIMALS

He said the government will also buy weak animals from the pastoralists adding that Sh170 million has been allocated for the programme.

Mr Duale, at the same time cautioned school principals against chasing away students for lack of fees, adding that the Jubilee administration will scale up the food for fees programme in areas affected by drought to safeguard students from dropping out of school.

“Any school head who chases a child from school over fees…will leave the school before the child reaches home.

“As a government, we value the education of our children and that is why we have provided enough tuition money and waved national examination charges,” said Mr Duale.

Garissa County Commissioner James Kianda said the government will provide transport to take the relief food to the respective schools to ease logistic problems.

Mr Kianda warned headteachers against misappropriating the food given to their schools by the government, adding that anyone found culpable will be prosecuted.