Council staff follow proceedings during the first devotion of 2017 held at Jumuia Place Nairobi
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK General Secretary Reverend Canon Peter Karanja, has challenged Council staff with children to invest in them for a better future.
He particularly singled out those whose children may have performed dismally in last year’s national examination, urging them not to be discouraged by the scores.
Canon Karanja who spoke at Jumuia place Nairobi during the first staff devotion this year, acknowledged the difficulty parents go through especially finding space in institutions of excellence after their children sit national exams. “I want to thank all those whose children did KCPE exams and have found space in high schools. Let’s make it a policy to invest in our children. Let us believe in them,” he appealed to them.
At the same time the NCCK General Secretary underscored the importance of peace and tranquility in Kenya as the country prepares for the general election later on this year. He regretted that some politicians had already started beating the drums of war, adding that peace was a choice that people make to have.
The session was attended by NCCK senior management among them Deputy General Secretary Dr. Nelson Makanda and Programmes Director Susie Ibutu.
Dr. Makanda who quoted Psalms 33: 18-22, urged Kenyans to always look up to God in all situations. “May God help us to be broken hearts before Him, fear Him, and seek Him. Waiting on God sometimes can be challenging. But we need to be patient with Him and He will act for you,” he pointed out.
On her part, Ibutu pointed out that her department was gearing up for an eventful season being an election year. She said: “It is an election year and we need your prayers as we engage in the process.”
Susie Ibutu makes her remarks during the session
The session was punctuated with light moments as various staff shared their experiences during the just concluded festive season. Of great attention was however testimonies from those whose children sat the 2016 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education.
Addressing their coleagues, Senior Accountants Peter Mutiso and Micah Makongo narrated how they anxiously waited for the results that were released by the Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i earlier than had been tradition. “We were quite anxious because my daughter who sat KCSE had planned to get an A but ended up with a B. We thank God for the results. We are now waiting to see what she will be called for because she wanted to do engineering or medicine,” revealed Mutiso.
Staff burst into laughter after their colleage narrated his experience during the festive season
Makongo said: “My daughter had expected to get 400 points in KCPE and proceed to Pangani Girls. She hover missed it which made her cry for some hours despite topping in her school. I sort the intervention of colleagues who spoke to her before she could accept her fate. She will be joining Othaya Girls.”
For Sophie Kamenju, who also had a KCPE candidate, the thought of knowing her daughter’s fate before Christmas threw her into a spin. “We were the first group to face Matiang’i’s wrath. The news got us by surprise. When my daughter told me the results were being released, something passed through my stomach……It has not been easy for parents but we are happy with the way the CS is taking us. My daughter will be joining Kangaru Girls in Embu after scoring over 400 points,” said Kamenju.
Others who spoke were Gilbert Wanjohi (Internal Auditor) and Ken Ogallo (Accountant).
Wanjohi echoed his boss’s remarks, advising parents not to put pressure on their children. “I have realized that we parents are pushing our children to do crazy things including stealing exams. We must appreciate our children for what they are,” he offered. Wanjohi’s daughter scored 392 points in the 2016 KCPE and is set to join Moi Girls.
