Mikuyu Assistant Chief Peter Ngovu together with his Village Elders during a Mop Up exercise of Grade 10 students who had not reported to School. Photo by Virginia Siebella 
By Virginia Siebella.
An ambitious grassroots initiative by Mikuyu Sub-Chief Peter Ngovu has resulted in the successful enrollment of ten Grade 10 learners at Vota Senior School in Machakos County, boosting the government’s push for 100 percent transition to secondary education.
Concerned that several learners who sat for the national examinations had not reported to school, Ngovu—working closely with village elders, nyumba kumi representatives, and members of the community policing team—launched a door-to-door operation across Vota location to trace affected children.
In a personal show of commitment, the Sub-Chief used his motorbike to transport some of the learners from their homes to school, ensuring they were enrolled without further delay.
Most of the children come from extremely vulnerable households, with several raised by single parents struggling to meet basic needs. Prolonged drought in the area has worsened the situation, leaving many families without stable sources of income and unable to afford food, school fees, uniforms, and learning materials.
In some market centres, parents had only managed to purchase school uniforms, holding onto hope that their children would eventually report to school once conditions improved. However, persistent hunger—particularly the lack of daily meals such as breakfast and supper—has continued to derail school attendance.
Speaking after the exercise, Ngovu said the intervention was necessary to guarantee equal opportunities for all learners, regardless of their background.
“Due to the prolonged drought, this area is facing a serious financial crisis, especially in access to food. Hunger has become a major challenge, and many children no longer get basic daily meals. Many parents have also lost their livelihoods,” he said.
The Sub-Chief revealed that at least seven learners in his area are from households so poor that their parents are unable to pay school fees or meet essential school requirements.
“Today, together with local elders and security teams, we identified learners from different homesteads and ensured they were enrolled at Vota Secondary School to begin Grade 10, in line with the President’s directive that every child who sat for the national examination must transition to the next level,” he added.
Ngovu noted that the exercise also uncovered cases where some parents were financially able but had not prioritized education. After engagement and sensitization, the parents acknowledged their mistake and agreed to take their children to school.
He urged parents facing genuine challenges to seek support from government and community institutions, including the offices of the Deputy Chief, Chief, church leaders, Members of Parliament, and Members of County Assembly (MCAs).
Education officials later confirmed that Vota location has now achieved full Grade 10 transition, marking a significant milestone in the quest to ensure no child is left behind.
