Why Do Some Children Still Leave Primary School Early? Comparing Reasons in Three Regions of Kenya

Abstract While free primary education (FPE) has made significant strides towards schooling for all Kenyan children, and dropout rates have been notably reduced, a regional disparity clearly persists. This means that many children in arid and semi-arid regions and informal settlements in urban areas leave school before completion. The purpose of this article is to report on a study that examined the reasons why some children still leave school early. Targeting the 7–17 year age group, a total of 83 children participated in the study, which was conducted in three counties in which government statistics showed low enrolment, namely, Nairobi, Garissa and Laikipia. It used both questionnaires and semi-structured interviews for data collection, and also collected evidence from government offices, primary schools, and a local non-governmental organisation (NGO). The findings indicated that a regular free meal programme and sensitisation of parents and communities are two intervention policies that are likely to help keep children in school.