13-year-old girl drops out of Junior Secondary School, forced to work at dumpsite to fend for family

A 13-year-old girl from Mukuru Kwa Njenga slums in Nairobi has been forced to work in a dumpsite to make ends meet as her mother lacks the money to cater for her school fees.

For three months, Gloria Amisi has been collecting reusable items at the dumpsite and selling them to supplement her mother's income as she struggles to educate her two siblings in Form One and Form Two.

She is supposed to be in Grade Seven at Our Lady of Nazareth Primary School.

"Sikuweza kuwa na pesa iliyokuwa ikihitajika sasa ndio maana ako nyumbani ,” Rebecca Andeso, Gloria's mother, said.

Gloria on her part stated: "Nilienda nikapata mama mwengine na hizo vitu nikamuuliza kama naeza okota...nikakuwa naokota nampea nikilipwa Ksh.120 au Ksh.100 napea mum.”

Andeso said her efforts to talk to the school administration to allow her daughter back in school as she seeks Ksh.22,000 to cater for her fee balance and other items required for her as a Junior Secondary School (JSS) student fell on deaf ears despite the government's directive to allow students even without fees in school.

"Nimeenda huko mara tano, head teacher akinirudisha...ananirudisha ananiambia nitafute pesa...Tukaenda kwa chifu asaidie lakini tukafika shuleni tena akakataa,” Andeso explained.

From the list provided by the school, Andeso could only afford a few exercise books which are still blank as she has not stepped in class for the last four months. The cost of education for her other siblings has also dealt her a blow.

"Kuna huyo mwenye ako Form Two, ni ile tu ni struggle juu chini ndio niweze kupata hiyo pesa. Kuna mwenye ako Form One, Mungu alisaidia nikapata ile nilipata akaenda,” she stated.

Gloria, who admits to despising the work she currently does, expresses her willingness to pursue her dreams with the hope that she will one day become a doctor and help her mother.

"Sipendi kufanya hiyo kazi lakini nataka niingie shule ili nikuwe daktari niinue maisha ya mama yangu," she said.

Citizen Digital sought a response from the management of the school, the head teacher Eunice Oluoch said that she has reached out to the family to plan on how the girl can be assisted to go back to school.

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang had on Monday said that the ministry needs at least Ksh.15.3 billion to adequately fund Junior Secondary Schools.