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School uniform monopoly is hurting parents
Parents and guardians purchase school uniforms for their children at a shop in Nakuru city on January 8, 2025.
What you need to know:
- If parents could be allowed to buy fabrics and go to their local tailors, the uniforms would be cheaper.
- The new requirements for renewal of driving licences of 60-year-olds and above are unjust and discriminatory.
Exploitation • The school uniform monopoly practised by public and private institutions for years continues to exploit parents, says Edwin Kariuki. “Many school heads insist that parents purchase uniforms from particular shops or directly from their own stores. If parents could be allowed to buy fabrics and go to their local tailors, the uniforms would be cheaper.” His contact is [email protected].
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Excellence • Roads engineers should conduct their benchmarking on the Salama-Mtito Andei section of the Mombasa highway, which has no potholes in the 20 years since its construction, says Henry Kibett. “They should study the materials used and specifications to achieve the exceptional quality. Hire contractors driven by excellence rather than profit.” His contact is [email protected].
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Barbaric • Having read widely for many years, Limo Esquire has unsolicited divine advice for African leaders in 2026, based on Mark 8:36, which states: “What profiteth a man if he shall gain the whole world but lose his soul!” The leaders’ script, Limo laments “seems to be barbaric accumulation of wealth through corruption, but eventually die leaving it behind”. His contact is [email protected].
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Inheritance • Vernacular radio stations promoting illegal tribal customs must be called out, says Prof Sam Chege. “This week, a guest speaker on Inooro FM said that it’s taboo and against the Kikuyu tribal customs for married women to inherit property from their fathers. But the 2010 Constitution guarantees equality and property rights to married women, too.” His contact is [email protected].
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Unfair • The new requirements for renewal of the driving licences of 60-year-olds and above “are not only unjust, but also discriminatory”, says Godfrey Kanyagia. “What evidence does the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have that those aged 60 are more prone to road accidents? Will the medical tests be done by NTSA for free?” His contact is [email protected].
Have an unbiased day, won’t you!
