Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwour, popularly known as Jalang’o, has proposed the designation of the entire country of Kenya as a hardship area, citing various challenges, including overpopulated classrooms and understaffing in Nairobi.
He emphasized the severity of hardships in the capital, sharing an example of a ward in his constituency with only one public primary school.

“You see, when I hear people mention hardship areas; there is no hardship area in this country more than Nairobi. Nairobi is even worse; this is even called shamba la mawe to insinuate this is where hardship begins. In my constituency, for example, we have a Ward called Highrise where we have only one public school; Joash Olum Primary School. With one school in the whole ward, it means the whole ward and all children go to the same school. Can you imagine what the teachers at Joash Olum Primary School are going through?” Jalang’o posed.

The proposal was made during a comments on petitions session discussing the gazettement of Nyatike sub-counties as hardship areas on November 14. Jalang’o expressed these views while engaging with Lamu East MP Ruweida Obo Mohamed.
“I wanted to talk to my sister, madam Ruweida just talk about issues of Lamu county because if each of us would tell you what our teachers, even in this city of Nairobi, are going through, you won’t believe it. We are dealing with overpopulated classrooms, and understaffed in Nairobi, and the slum areas are even worse. Right now, it is raining, it is even hard for children to get to school and let’s not talk about the muggings and killings the teachers are going through. Each and every single area in this country, let’s declare Kenya a hardship country,” he said.

The legislator noted that Nairobi, often referred to by its renowned nickname ‘ Shamba la Mawe’ faces unparalleled hardships, asserting that no other place in the country bears a greater burden.