15 painters receive education support amid school fees strain

Against this backdrop, 15 painters from different parts of the country have received KSh 50,000 each in school fees support under a corporate-backed programme targeting families within the construction and painting trade.

The support by Kansai Plascon Kenya, amounting to a total of Ksh.750,000, comes at a time when many households are grappling with increasing education-related expenses, including tuition, uniforms and learning materials, even as earnings in the informal construction sector remain unstable.

Painters, most of whom rely on casual and contract work, say meeting school fees obligations has become increasingly difficult due to fluctuating job opportunities and rising living costs.

The programme, implemented in partnership with Muthokinju Paints and Cement, targeted painters whose children are currently in school. Beneficiaries were selected from different regions, reflecting the spread of informal labour within the construction sector.

While the assistance offers short-term relief to a small number of families, education advocates note that thousands of low-income workers across the country continue to face challenges in sustaining their children’s schooling amid persistent economic pressures.

Kenya’s informal sector employs millions of workers, many of whom lack steady incomes or access to structured social protection, leaving families vulnerable when major expenses such as school fees fall due.