As schools reopen for the first term today, parents in the South Rift region continue to express frustration over the high cost of school items.
Joyce Soi, a parent from Chepalungu in Bomet, said that parents have opted to purchasing a few items after shops and supermarkets doubled the prices of the items.
Speaking in the area, she questioned why the prices have been hiked abruptly, a situation that could make many parents unable to get the items.
“I came here to shop for my daughter, but we are shocked by the hike of prices of items. Now I have been forced to dig deeper because I came here with a fixed budget,” she said.
Soi also decried the hiking of fares by public service vehicles which has affected transportation, further urging teachers to bear with students who arrive in school beyond set time.
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“We also see that public transport vehicles have also hiked fares. This has affected travel and this could cause some students to arrive in school beyond the set time. As a result, we would like to ask teachers to bear with our students,” said Soi.
Rogue traders
Emily Kirui from Ndanai in Sotik Sub-county echoed the sentiments, asking the government to urgently intervene and crack down on rogue traders so that all students could get the needed items.
“Everything now is expensive and this is highly worrying. As parents, we would like to appeal to the government to urgently prevail upon these traders,” pointed out Kirui.
Jolly Uniforms Director Harrison Rono however observed that business is low compared to the previous years due to tough economy and lack of students joining Form One.
Motorists have also been advised to fully comply with traffic rules in order to prevent accidents, many of which have been blamed on human error.
By Kimutai Langat
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