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{
    "id": 1093292,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1093292/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 668,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13188,
        "legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
        "slug": "getrude-musuruve-inimah"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker for giving me this opportunity to proceed to my next Statement. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No. 47(1), to make a Statement on an issue of general topical concern namely, the plight of academically bright children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. There have been many reported cases of students who have performed well in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations, struggling to join Form One, but are stranded because of their parents’ or guardian’s financial inabilities to pay their fees. Madam Temporary Speaker, in one clear case, Billy Steve, a student in Homa Bay County who scored 405 marks could not raise the fees to join Maseno School. He is a child of a single mother who does menial jobs to provide support. His grandfather, who was supporting them, passed on. The most recent case is that of a student in Bungoma County who scored over 400 marks, who missed the county bursary and his parents considered having the student repeat the previous class. Another case is that of Valery, a student from Vihiga County, who had been selected to join Vokoli Girls. Her father had passed on as a result of cancer at the time she was sitting her exams, but her guardian could not raise her school fees. Madam Temporary Speaker, I have witnessed many cases as well in Lugari Constituency of academically bright students unable to take up secondary education because of lack of school fees. I have voluntarily taken up responsibility to pay this year’s school fees for five needy cases in Lugari where I come from. I am alive to the fact that education is a game changer in the lives of children from low socio-economic backgrounds. I acknowledge the Government’s initiative of 100 per cent transition of students to secondary schools regardless of their socio-economic background. No child chooses his background or family but given an appropriate opportunity, all children have the potential of determining their destiny. I call upon the Government to allocate more resources to education and ensure that the economically disadvantaged learners acquire education, which is their deserving basic right. Partners and philanthropists need to invest in the education of children around them so that together we can make the world a better place where poverty is completely eliminated and everyone has an opportunity to eke a living. I thank you."
}