Former nominated Member of the County Assembly (MCA) Esther Nyamwamu has expressed concern over the high rates of girls dropping out of school in Kisii County.
She noted that many of these girls come from impoverished backgrounds with different parents who fail to provide them with essential sanitary towels, hindering their ability to attend school comfortably.
Nyamwamu said some of these girls struggle to manage their monthly menstrual cycle, often falling victim to local boda boda riders and other adults who entice them into sexual relationships in exchange for money to purchase sanitary pads.
Unfortunately, many of these vulnerable girls end up pregnant and are forced to leave school to care for their children, often with absent fathers.
“This vicious cycle of school dropouts and teenage pregnancies leads to a surge of young women who ultimately end up as barmaids in local establishments,” she stated.
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She called for a unified effort to address this issue and pave the way for competitive education goals for girls, whose roles in society have long been undervalued.
Nyamwamu urged the Ministry of Education to allocate specific funds to support the purchase of sanitary towels for schoolgirls.
Nyamwamu pointed out that girls in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Secondary schools are the most affected, as the majority of them have reached adolescence, a critical stage in their lives.
She urged churches and community social workers to enhance guidance and counseling services for these students, helping them understand their bodily changes and prepare to protect themselves from social evils as they transition into adulthood.
Additionally, she encouraged political leaders to seek ways to empower communities to rise from poverty by utilizing available resources, such as land for productive purposes, rather than being economic burdens.
Nyamwamu praised the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) for introducing youth to self-reliance initiatives but urged the government to allocate sufficient funds to improve infrastructure, learning materials, and to employ more teachers.
By Enock Okong’o
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