Examining the Intricacy of Character Formation among Kenyan Children: The Diminishing Role of Schools

Kenya, like the rest of the world, is grappling with the problem of undesirable character among its citizens. Whereas the country’s system of education identifies character formation as one of the aims of its education, the same is not reflected in the products of the system. This paper sought to reflect over the whole affair of character formation, with special focus on why schools have not been able to successfully achieve this important learning outcome. The paper, drawn from an earlier analytical study on pedagogies of character formation among Kenyan schools, exposed the underbelly of society in general, where the latter passed as a major impediment towards character formation efforts. Some influencers, among them showbiz celebrities and political icons, proved quite impressionistic to youngsters, hence drawing them into the vices they portrayed. Families, on the other hand, had not fully lived up to their primary duty of moulding children into righteous beings, and various reasons were advanced. However, schools, despite their infirmities, were established as the better option, owing to their relatively structured way of forming character among children. Whereas they were variously blamed for the mess in the society, they still remained the only reliable agent that the country relied on – given the professionalism within them, and the amount of time children spent there. It is for this reason that the paper advocated the strengthening of character formation programmes in schools, specifically, finding ways through which knowledge on and conviction for good character could best be communicated to learners.