Parents urged to monitor children during long school holiday

Nairobi South MCA Waithera Chege during the issuance of bursaries in Nairobi/HANDOUT 

Parents have been urged to closely monitor their children during the long school holiday to protect them from falling into drug and substance abuse or engaging in irresponsible sexual behavior.

According to Nairobi County Assembly Deputy Minority Leader and Nairobi South MCA, Waithera Chege, parents play a critical role in guiding and safeguarding their children to ensure they remain focused on their education.

The schools were closed for the third term on October 24 with the opening date set to be January 5, 2026.

“We live in informal settlements where some individuals may take advantage of children when parents are away. It’s important that parents remain vigilant to prevent cases of teenage pregnancies and other social challenges,” Waithera said.

She made the remarks in Nairobi during an event where she disbursed bursary funds to support students from financially challenged families.

More than 700 learners benefited from the bursary programme,  which will cover their school fees for the first term of the 2026 academic year starting in January.

Parents who benefited expressed gratitude for the financial assistance, saying the bursary would ease their burden amid the rising cost of education.

They, however, appealed to both county and national governments to ensure timely disbursement of bursary funds to prevent interruptions in learning.

“We thank our MCA for her continued support. She has really helped us, and I don’t think any child will miss school for lack of fees,” said one resident.

Life is unbearable for many parents with majority of them now jobless. Such help goes a long way is helping them ensure that their children are in school,” another parent stated.

The parents also called on the government to increase capitation and bursary allocations, particularly for public schools, noting that many learners from poor families risk being sent home due to unpaid fees.

During the same event, Waithera Chege lauded President William Ruto and Azimio leader the late Raila Odinga for mediating the leadership standoff between Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Members of the Nairobi County Assembly.

She said the resolution of the conflict had paved the way for renewed cooperation that would allow the county to resume key development projects, including the improvement of roads, drainage systems, and other essential infrastructure across the city.

Waithera urged Governor Sakaja to fulfill his promises to ward representatives and residents, saying Nairobians expect tangible progress and better services at the grassroots following the end of the political wrangles.