Kwale officials raise alarm as thousands of children remain out of school

At least 17,000 children in Kwale County are not in school despite being in the appropriate age bracket, an official noted on Sunday, the International Day of the African Child.

Matuga Sub-county Children's Officer Johnstone Kivuli said the 2020 survey by the Kwale County Children's Department involved boys and girls between five and 18.

Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta Primary School in Msambweni, Kivuli said that immediately after the survey, they embarked on a mission to track the children and ensure they were enrolled in school.

"From 2020 to 2024, we have located only 8,000 of the 17,000 children. We call on the public to help us track these children by reporting [where they are] through toll-free number 166," he said.

Children from different schools in Kwale County celebrate the International Day of the African Child at the Jomo Kenyatta Primary School in Msambweni Sub-county on June 16, 2024. (Photo: Mishi Gongo/EV)

Kivuli regretted that many children were not in school despite efforts by the county and national government to ensure they all had access to education.

He issued a warning to parents, noting that out of the 8,000 children they had tracked, some were engaging in child labour instead of being in school.

The official said cases of child labour and sexual exploitation, including defilement and early marriage, remained a matter of great concern in the county.

He added that incidents of unscrupulous parents colluding with sex pests to abuse children for money had also been reported in the region.

Justice Addraya Dena warned that anyone found employing a child would face the law to curb cases where they are hired for cheap labour.

"When you allow a child to work, you are exposing them to exploitation such as physical and sexual abuse, so I urge you, parents, to take your children to school because that is where they belong," she said.

Justice Addraya also highlighted the new Children's Act, saying cases of defilement were rampant in the region, and cautioning parents against solving these cases at home.

"Please report defilement cases even if the perpetrator is a family member. Hiding these cases only denies the victim justice," she explained.

Further, the judge said parents must not discriminate against and stigmatise teen moms because this has resulted in drastic actions such as harming children to get rid of them.

"When a child messes up, please take your time to guide and counsel them. Support and encourage them to go back to school," he emphasised.

She gave the example of a teen mom who buried her baby alive to conceal the shame and noted that most of the babies who were abandoned and rescued were of teen moms.

Ramisi MCA Hanifa Mwajirani urged parents to make use of the Sh5 million bursary offered by the county.

"We can only do away with poverty when our children are educated. We have devolution so there are many opportunities in our county. Who will [grab] them if our children are not educated?"

Kwale County’s Deputy Government Spokesperson, Mwanaisha Chidzuga, addresses journalists at the Jomo Kenyatta Primary School in Msambweni Sub-county on June 16, 2024, during an event to mark the International Day of the African Child. (Photo: Mishi Gongo/EV)

Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga said it was sad that many children had dropped out of school, wasting time and money set aside for their education.

"The government plans for every child. What happens to the money sent to schools when there are no children?"

She also called on coastal members of the National Assembly to amend the Muguka law, saying the stimulant had caused many children to abandon school.

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