Give me an education, hopefully I'll afford a pair of shoes in future

Having a pair of shoes to wear to school for some children in Kenya is a privilege. For others, particularly in urban and semi-urban regions, regardless of social standing, it's rather understood that a school uniform includes shoes. But for some poor pupils and parents, the clothes make the uniform and that's that. Shoes, if available are a bonus; coming in all types, form and colour. It's not uncommon for pupils to go to school in patipatis [slippers].

A few years ago, it was that if you didn't afford shoes, you didn't go to school. This was because although unaffordable to some, shoes were still way cheaper than the cost of primary education. But with President Mwai Kibaki's landmark initiative to provide free primary education to every Kenyan since 2003, an additional 1.5 million children were reported to have enrolled in school for the first time.

Kenyans value education and will pursue it as long and as high as they can. So over the last few years, parents tolerated an influx in pupil enrolments, including some adult ones who only wanted to finally write/spell their names. Kenyans stood by as pupils out-numbered teachers and education standards fell to record lows. Books and teaching materials became scarce. Those with some cash to spare enrolled their children into the ever increasing private academies. The best teachers left their public employ for a more lucrative pay with the private sector. Still life seemed to be good.

Then, the beast that seems to stalk Kenya's Public Sector struck again. News media started reporting of yet another corruption scandal, this time at the Ministry of Education. A government audit revealed that over 4.2 billion shillings had disappeared from the Ministry. Embezzled!

As it stands now, the minister and permanent secretary at that ministry of Education have refused to resign. But, I’ll not go into corruption and its notoriety in Kenya. Instead, let me show you what theft, misuse and misappropriation of these funds has denied and will continue to deny Kenya's neediest pupils.

EstherWambui/Photos

I met these kids when I visited their school in Kibera a while back. When I see the innocence, beauty and hope in their eyes, I want to back our public officials into a corner and demand to know how they can continue with such impunity.

EstherWambui/Photos

I was in a bus touring Kilifi recently when I saw these pupils going home from school for lunch. In such scorching sun, I was really saddened by the fact that in this day and age, majority walked shoeless.