Keiyo north: At least 92 vulnerable learners in Keiyo North Sub-County, Elgeyo Marakwet County have benefited from a targeted education support initiative aimed at enhancing school retention and improving learning outcomes among disadvantaged children.
According to Kenya News Agency, the beneficiaries, drawn from Mindililwo School and surrounding institutions, received a package of essential school supplies including uniforms, school bags, shoes, and other learning materials, through Marpo, an organisation focused on child welfare and education support in Elgeyo Marakwet.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, Viola Barsulai, a teacher at Kamariny Primary School and a children’s rights activist, said the initiative seeks to eliminate barriers that hinder children from accessing and remaining in school. “On behalf of Marpo, we are committed to supporting children through the provision of school uniforms, a feeding program, and ensuring that no child drops out due to lack of necessities,” she said.
Barsulai noted that the programme, which was launched last year, has already supported over 150 learners in Kamariny, five in Kesuup, and several others across neighbouring schools. “Today we are at Mindililwo School to distribute uniforms, school bags, shoes, and other essential supplies to 92 learners. This intervention is meant to ensure that no child misses out on education due to a lack of basic requirements,” she added.
She explained that the selection of beneficiaries is community-driven, with local stakeholders identifying children from the most vulnerable households. “We work closely with the community to pinpoint those most in need. This ensures that support reaches the most deserving cases,” Barsulai said.
In a move to promote inclusivity, the programme has also incorporated children living with disabilities in the latest phase of support. “This time, we have broadened our scope to include children living with disabilities, ensuring that they, too, have equal opportunities to access education,” she emphasised.
However, Barsulai cited limited resources as a major challenge affecting the program’s ability to scale up its interventions. “The demand is high, and we are not able to reach every child in need. We are doing our best, but resource constraints remain a key limitation,” she said.
She revealed that the programme is planning to expand its outreach to Marakwet East Sub-County in the coming phases, subject to the availability of funding and partnerships. “We are aiming to extend this support to children in Marakwet East. With increased collaboration and support from stakeholders, we believe we can reach more children,” she noted.
Barsulai called on well-wishers, development partners, and community members to support such initiatives, underscoring the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding children’s right to education. “If all of us come together and support each other, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of these children,” she said.
