Magoha on the spot over delays in reopening schools

A section of parents now want Cabinet Secretary for Education CS Prof George Magoha to reopen schools by September 1^st.

Through city lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, the parents argued that what Mr. Magoha was busy doing is to discriminate children against adults who were normally going on with their daily activities despite presence of Coronavirus pandemic.

They further reasoned through their demand notice that if parents many who do not observe Covid-19 safety regulations were going on with their business as usual and in the evening going back home to their children what then stops their families from being wiped away by the virus as it is being made to look like.

They therefore think it would be much safer for children to be at school than at home since carelessness at home was now becoming too much to control.

They challenged the Magoha-led ministry and the government at large to not run away from their responsibilities and take care of children while at school if at all they were serious with saving lives of the young ones in this country.

“It is not lost to these parents that simultaneous with your declaration of closure of schools, other adult persons in Kenya continue to enjoy the daily realization of their dreams, work schedules, business expansion, and aspirations over the same period; you have unlawfully discriminated against the voiceless school-enrolled, school-going children solely on account of their age,” the document read.

According to the parents, Ministry of Education was interested more in serving the interests of foreigners than the children. This is because they are doing whatever they are being ordered to do by outsiders than thinking about the welfare of kids most of whom are getting spoilt in the villagers and slums they live.

They further demanded Mr. Magoha to substantiate with valid reasons why he thinks January was the most appropriate date for reopening than any other day when in real sense no one is sure with when this crisis will be brought under control.

Magoha is also required to explain the irony in why children are all over markets, play fields and engaged in all manner of activities but not allowed to attend classes.

“The overwhelming majority of Kenyan parents are ready and willing to provide their children with education as mandated by statutory but your ministry is the blockade irrationally standing in the way,” the demand letter stated.

Keeping children at home was having more negative and far reaching consequences that having them at schools. Parents explained this in their task to the CS to respond to their demand urgently or meet them in court.