Scores of parents spent the night in the cold at Makueni county headquarters on Wednesday in search of birth certificates for their children.
The document is required for the government's registration of learners on the National Education Management Information System.
The deadline was extended to March 31 to enable learners who are yet to get birth certificates collect the documents.
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Those who spoke to The Star at the gates on Thursday morning accused the government of introducing the programme without enough officers to serve them.
Monica Muli from Muvau village said officials from the registration department should have been dispatched to villages to enable more parents access the service.
"I have endured the cold and mosquito bites the whole night. I wish the documents could be issued at the chief's office," she said.
Some of the parents who spent the night at Makueni county headquarters
in search of birth certificates for their children, February 21, 2018. /COURTESY
The mother of three said she opted to spend a second night at the gates of the office of the county commissioner to secure a place in good time.
"Everyday, they pick a group of 80 parents. So, I decided not to go home because many of us are coming for the documents," Muvau said.
James Kithuku from Mukuyuni village suggested that the documents be issued at polling centres.
"I spent the night here but I didn't close my eyes at all. We kept vigil as the women slept on the grass," he said.
He complained that the number of people seeking the certificates is high yet only a few officers are handling the applications.