A silent crisis is brewing in Nakuru County following reports of a high number of boys dropping out of school.

Chairman of the Boy-Child lobby group Samuel Karanja says the trend poses serious challenges.

Karanja said recent studies have shown a disturbing pattern of boys in Nakuru County leaving school due to a number of factors including economic constraints.

 Many families are struggling to buy basic needs let alone afford school fees, uniforms and learning materials.

In some communities, he added, boys are pressured to engage in income-generating activities at an early age, such as herding livestock or working in the informal sector.

Karanja noted that some boys find the school environment unengaging or feel that education does not offer them viable prospects for the future.

He said that peer pressure, drug abuse, and involvement in criminal activities also contribute to school dropout rates.

Additionally, the chairman said poverty in Nakuru County was slightly higher than the national average, due to vast areas that are semi-arid coupled with climate change.

He noted that according to Unesco statistics 258 million children are out of school, and a majority are in developing countries.

He commended the World Bank for continuously reminding developing countries that every dollar they invest in education generates 10-15 dollars in economic growth.

Karanja said the repercussions of limited education for boys were far-reaching, saying it reduces employment opportunities, leading to low-paying or unstable jobs thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty, affecting families and communities.

Worse still, he stated, lack of education can lead to increased vulnerability to crime, drug abuse and other social ills thus straining community resources besides compromising public safety.

He cited the Nakuru GK Prison which has more young men a majority being school dropouts.

Furthermore, he said uneducated individuals are less likely to participate in civic activities and make informed decisions, and that’s the reason politicians tend to misuse them during political campaigns.