A number of parents from Borabu Constituency have embarked on selling their livestock in order to raise school fees for their young ones who are to join form one this year.
Many livestock markets like Chepilat and Metamaywa have experienced a large number of livestock especially this week due to increasing number of parents selling livestock to raise fees.
According to Kelvin Bogonko, a parent who’s child is expected to join form one, said that most people do not have stable jobs to help them get money for school fees, therefore selling their livestock is the only way they could use to graise the fees.
Some of their children have been admitted to giant academic schools across the country making it difficult for some of them to raise fees needed in such schools, some of which are very far distant from where they live.
“I was caught off-guard following incredible performance of my son. He was admitted to Maseno School where I am expected to pay more than Sh50,000. This is why I had to sell my livestock to raise that fee,” said Bogonko.
“I do not think that selling our livestock to raise fees for our children is a bad idea since Harambees never work nowadays. Therefore, one is expected to use what he or she has at hand to raise fees for their children,” said another parent at the market.
He defends parents from what some many people have called ‘unpreparedness and panic’ saying education is fundamental hence sacrifice were worthy.
“Some of us have come under severe criticism following our move to sell our livestock. Education is vital and that is why we use everything at our disposal to achieve it,” added the parent.
However, traders have taken advantage over the desperation by parents and are buying cows worth Sh40,000 at a price as low as Sh15,000.