The constituency development fund (CDF) has helped in securing the education of many needy children in Saku Constituency and stakeholders want the government to increase the allocation.
At the same time, area Member of Parliament Colonel (Rtd) Dido Raso called on parents to take the education of their children seriously and stop assigning them chores that make them deviate from attending school.
Speaking during the disbursement of bursary cheques worth sh 34.3 million to 2,462 needy students at Dakabaricha secondary school the local parents and teachers association chairman Omar Qutara said that there were many deserving cases that were not being taken care of hence the need for the government to increase the kitty.
Mr Qutara also called for urgent establishment of computer labs to enable students to undertake computer subjects to enable them to fit in the ever changing digital world.
This he said would require money for construction and equipping the labs just as was the case of 100 per cent transition of pupils to secondary school which necessitates expansion of infrastructure.
On his part, the MP cautioned against involvement of school age boys in picking of miraa and bodaboda activities which he complained was the cause for the widespread substance abuse and drop out among male students.
Col Raso pointed out that owing to bad conditions like prolonged drought and insecurity needy cases have been on the rise as parents and guardians were not able to adequately cater for education needs of their children and those orphaned by criminals.
The MP urged parents to compliment the government role and that of teachers by taking an active role in instilling discipline in their children which he said was important for academic excellence.
Col Raso advised against retrogressive cultural practices like early marriages which he said were an impediment for not only individual development but the nation as well.
The legislator whose concern was collaborated by the local sub-county director of education Safina Adhi who asked parents to stop marrying off their girls at tender age for material gain.
Ms Adhi advised local pastoralist communities to educate their children in order to give them a bright future.
“I advise parents to seriously guard their daughters against being preyed on by bodaboda operators who lure them with little money,” she advised.
The county TSC director Tom Ekal hailed the role played by the CDF kitty which has seen many children from poor background access education besides getting equal opportunities with the privileged.
The disbursement saw 1,548 secondary school students and 914 in colleges and universities get bursary assistance with Marsabit Central Sub-county ACC Richard Konga for reward to needy students with exemplary performance in school.