Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme, Ida Odinga, urged learners nationwide to value education and avoid lawless conduct to protect the future.
She spoke at the funeral of Professor Jacob Ogweno Midiwo in Kisumu on Saturday, June 20, where she encouraged young people to see education as their pathway to achievement.
Odinga pointed to the growing unrest in schools and urged learners to concentrate on their studies so they can build a strong foundation for a meaningful life. She also called on parents to return to their role in shaping their children’s lives.
Ida Odinga told learners who struggled to focus on why they went to school to leave the institutions rather than disrupt others who want to learn.
“Students don’t go to school to be employed; they go to gain knowledge and create something. Let me add that there are many schools in this country. Why would anyone burn a school? Parents, please talk to your children. Who are you punishing when you decide to burn your school, your teacher, or your parents? If you have lost interest in your education, leave school, go home, and stop destroying schools,” she said.
At the same time, Ida warned young people not to let politicians exploit them for personal gain.
She expressed concern about the growing problem of goonism and urged youth to focus on meaningful activities that improve their lives while refusing to become tools for political violence.
“I speak to the young people with a lot of pain in my heart. Please aim higher so that one day you will be a somebody. Don’t allow yourself to be used in doing useless things like beating up people; don’t do that. While others are called professors, you are called goons,” she said.
