“I love education i want to work hard and be a boss someday. I do not want to be like my mother,” these are the words of a 13 year old boy from Dandora’s Ng’ando area.
According to this boy whom we shall call Solomon, he does not want to live in poverty when he grows up and be subject to humiliation and intimidation like his mother.
But is his dream of becoming a boss someday achievable? if …. “In Ng’ando bars are everywhere, at night there is a lot of noise coming from the drunkards who distract you during your reading moments,”
Emmanuel Odhiambo feels the mushrooming of bars in the area is a great impediment to education a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution of Kenya in [Article 43 (1) (f), Article 53 (1) (b)
An article written by James Mwenda a KNCHR officer states, “Since independence, Kenya has had the goal of attaining universal education which was and still is perceived as one of the gateways of eradicating ignorance, disease and poverty.”
Among many other challenges, the children feel the alcohol and the bars menace are denying them their rights and freedom. NACADA Boss John Mututho came with many laws proposing tighter rules on beer makers.
But even with these drinking trends show more Kenyans are drinking at home and more children are being exposed to alcohol than ever before.
Another report shows that in some areas, bars share the same doors with family areas begging the question; what happened to the Mututho laws?
Unless these laws are implemented the dreams of Solomon becoming a boss only remain a mirrage. Mr Mututho Sir, thou shall hear the cries of these children
CLARET ADHIAMBO