Kiambu Village Plagued By Dropouts Holds Party After Boy Completes Form 4: "We're Excited"

• Mophat Mukinyu, a resident of Kamae village, completed his secondary education, a significant achievement considering the high dropout rate in the area
• Mophat expressed that it’s better to have some level of education, noting that many of his classmates dropped out in Form One
• Locals made financial contributions to fund Mophat’s higher education, depending on his admission to a university or technical institute

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kiambu - Kamae village residents are still full of joy Mophat Mukinyu completed his secondary education and sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

While finishing high school is not an extraordinary fete for many, in Kamae village, Mukinyu could be considered an over-achiever considering the rate of truancy and school dropouts.

Mophat's fete was so significant to the small village that villagers held a party to celebrate him long before the national exam results were released.

The locals also made financial contributions to fund the 19-year-old scholar's higher education, depending on whether he gets into a university or a technical institute.

In a video shared by Citizen Digital, the party attendees could be seen dancing joyfully to vernacular gospel songs.

Area chief Gichuhi Mwai said Mophat's achievement was short of a miracle, given the high number of dropouts in the area.

"We are very excited because there are so many people who've dropped out of school due to various reasons, including drug abuse," Mwai stated.

How did Mophat celebrate completing Form Four

The young man was filled with emotions, explaining that most of his classmates in Form One had dropped out of school.

Mophat added that it was better for one to have some level of education rather than dropping out in the initial stages.

"There are many with whom we started Form One, but they disappeared. Some even claim they don't see the importance of education. You know, it's better to have some education, even if it's just a little, so you can say you went to school. Some people, by the time they finish Class 8, no longer see the importance of education." Mophat said.

His mother, Beatrice Waithira, said she was amazed that people had travelled from far away to support his son, adding that it is not an everyday thing.

Machogu's directive on school hours

In other education news, a few months ago, Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu asked headteachers of primary and secondary schools to ensure teaching takes place for only six hours.

According to Machogu, learning should happen between 8am and 3.45pm on weekdays.

The Education CS said the Ministry provides for a maximum of 6 hours of teaching, noting that the education of learners should be natural and not forced.