Ray of hope as young mothers are given chance to continue with education

Kakamega County Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda greeting beneficiaries during official flagging off of vocational training sponsorship programme at Kakamega Approved school on January 7, 2019. Over 130 youth beneficiaries have been sponsored through National government affirmative action fund. [PHOTO: BENJAMIN SAKWA]

More than 100 young mothers will benefit from a scholarship programme.

Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, who officially launched the initiative dubbed ‘Tumaini Scholars’ yesterday at the Kakamega Approved School, said parents and guardians had agreed to take care of the babies to ensure the young mothers did not miss classes.

The Woman Rep said the programme would put 125 beneficiaries through secondary school. “I have my affirmative action team on the ground and it will be monitoring their performance. Those who will post exemplary results will, as from next term, be absorbed in boarding schools and have their fees and shopping catered for,” said Ms Muhanda.

Most of the beneficiaries dropped out of school after becoming pregnant, thus shattering any dreams they had of continuing with their education.

A recent survey by the Ministry of Education showed that Kakamega was among counties in western Kenya with a high burden of teenage pregnancies.

In some instances, the teenagers were abused by relatives and guardians and threatened to remain silent.

Muhanda expressed concern that despite taking the young mothers back to school, more girls were getting pregnant. She asked stakeholders education officials and parents to take the lead in bringing the menace of early pregnancies to an end.

“We are giving the young mothers a second chance in life to redeem themselves. They have to understand their current situation and we won’t condemn them for getting pregnant. We will support them to realise their full potential,” she said.

A15-year-old beneficiary said an uncle she was living with in Matungu made her pregnant when she was in Form Two.

“Whenever my aunt was not at home, my uncle used to come to my bedroom and have sex with me without my consent. When I told him I was pregnant, he warned me of dire consequences if I told my aunt the truth. As a result, I blamed my pregnancy on another person,” she said.

She dropped out of school during the second term when her pregnancy started showing fearing she would be ridiculed by her friends. The baby is now six months old.

“I want to thank the Woman Rep for remembering me. I want to go back to school and become a surgeon. My dream will now come to pass,” she said.

A 14-year-old girl from Lugari said she got pregnant in Form One. She said her class teacher, who was employed by the school's board of management, was responsible.

“The teacher was my relative and used to take me to and from school on his motorcycle. He would also give me money. One day he lured me into a maize plantation and took my virginity. I became pregnant that day,” she said.

Pursue her dream

The student said she was happy that she would join a different school and pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer.

Muhanda has also sponsored 130 Form Four leavers who got grade C– (minus) and below in last year's KCSE to take technical courses at the National Industrial Training Authority facilities in Kisumu, Nairobi and Athi River.

She has also sponsored 600 boda boda riders to a driving school course to ensure that they adhere to traffic rules and get a driving licence.

The MP gave out Sh10 million to enable 34 needy students to join Form One. The money will cover their four-year stay in school.