Support for needy students and worker safety abroad intensified - Mwaura

Addressing the issue of school attendance, Mwaura acknowledged that some students have yet to return to school due to financial constraints, stating that the government’s priority is to ensure no learner is excluded from education.

“It is true that some students have not yet reported to school, and these are the ones we need to focus on as a government. We are using various ways to support them financially, including presidential and ministerial bursaries, as well as funds from members of parliament and county governments,” Mwaura said.

However, he raised concerns over schools that take advantage of the situation by charging excessive fees, warning that such practices undermine government efforts.

“Unfortunately, some schools exploit the system by demanding excessive fees. We are encouraging principals to be fair and to follow the guidelines set by the Ministry of Education so that we don’t hinder students who want to return to school,” he added.

Mwaura also addressed the ongoing drought situation affecting parts of the country, particularly in the northern regions. He revealed that the government has committed significant resources to avert a humanitarian crisis.

He noted that counties such as Garissa and Wajir remain a key focus, with efforts underway to ensure food distribution, water provision and livestock insurance.

“There are serious efforts to distribute food and provide water and insurance for livestock, especially in drought-prone counties. We have also appealed to development partners to join us in these efforts because we always step up to assist our people so that no one suffers from hunger,” Mwaura stated.

Mwaura noted that weather conditions in the country are expected to improve in the coming months.

“The Meteorological Department has forecasted rains in April and May, which should help replenish food supplies in the region,” he said.

Turning to the issue of labour migration, Mwaura urged Kenyans seeking employment abroad to exercise caution, warning against falling victim to unregistered recruitment agencies.

He assured the public that the government remains committed to safeguarding Kenyan workers through continuous updates and enforcement.

“It is very important that Kenyans are careful about where they go and the conditions under which they work,” he said.

“The Minister of Labour has already issued warnings, and some unauthorised recruitment agencies have been removed from the register,” he added.

Mwaura further said the government is intensifying the fight against corruption by reducing human involvement in service delivery.