Students Left Stranded as NGO Threatens to Withdraw Support

Students Left Stranded as NGO Threatens to Withdraw Support

Students Left Stranded as NGO Threatens to Withdraw Support

Children attending school and community members in Pap Onditi, Nyakach, Kisumu County, are left unsure of what to do next after receiving threats from an NGO that provided school fees and other community services. The NGO threatened to stop providing services.The NGO made this decision in response to an incident that occurred on January 6, 2024, when their offices were raided and property was taken by unidentified individuals; the specifics of the robbery remain a mystery to this day.

Members of the community affected including school-going children whose future is now in limbo are calling for help to help address the situation.“We are expected to join secondary schools by tomorrow and our school fees are not yet ready. As I see, our education may collapse, this does not bode well for us,” one pupil stated while speaking to journalists on Sunday.

Those affected further stated that the incident was reported to the police and so far no arrests have been made to bring to book those that might have been involved in the robbery. School-going children were seen with posters urging the perpetrators to return the stolen property so that they could continue enjoying the support of the NGO.

“We want the police to continue working on this case and report back to us; they need to find the truth.” The neighborhood is in disbelief,” a parent said.Additionally, they urged the NGO to change their mind because they had nowhere else to go, particularly for the schoolchildren.

Another community member said, “We are saddened by the theft that was conducted at this office and we have heard that our support might be cut short.”The aforementioned NGO has been operating a scholarship program that offers tuition assistance to students enrolled in regional and local community high schools.

In addition to offering scholarships, the NGO has helped the people of Pap Onditi with other elements of their daily lives. These include the establishment and upkeep of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers, school lunch programs, and the supply of clean water, among other initiatives.This occurs at a time when the high cost of living and the delay in NG-CDF bursary disbursement are making it difficult for students to return to school or enroll in new programs.