There was jubilation in Zabka, Kimorori Wempa ward, Maragua constituency as the groundbreaking for the establishment of the new Karugu Primary School took place.
The ceremony, which was graced by the County Governor Irungu Kangata, the area Member of Parliament Mary Wamaua, and the area MCA Warisper, among other leaders, brought forth relief to the residents whose children have been trekking over 7 kilometres to access the nearby schools.
The 7-acre site to host the institution was donated by the county government, and the school is set to be operational in January 2025.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Wamaua observed that the establishment of the school is set to offload the huge population of pupils at the nearby Peter Kariuki Primary School, which has close to 2000 learners.
She noted that residents of Zabka had for a long time longed to have a school in their own village to save their children the agony of travelling long distances to get to schools in the neighbouring locations.
“As a government, we are committed to ensuring that the Kenyan child has access to education affordably and easily without having to trek for several kilometres to get to a school,” she said, adding, “We are therefore keen on ensuring education is accessible to all because it is the only solution to the social vices and economic drawbacks in our society.”
The legislator opined that by bringing education closer to the people, their determination to promote a good society is almost halfway to fruition.
The school’s foundation package, entailing four classrooms, an administration block, and modern ablution blocks for the learners and teachers, according to Wamaua, will mark the start of a fully-fledged primary school, starting with the lower classes of PP1, PP2, grades one, two, and three.
On his part, Governor Kang’ata noted that his administration will continue to support education and any other development proposed by the MCAs and MPs.
“Equitable education standards ensure that every child has a fair chance to fulfil their potential and rise to the highest level of accomplishment, irrespective of their social background,” he said.
One of the residents, John Kariuki, divulged that having a school in the Zabka area had been long overdue, as the challenges pupils encounter to access the neighbouring schools have been immense.
“Sometimes it is raining, yet the little children have to walk several kilometres to school, and by the time they get there, they are too tired to even concentrate in class,” he noted.
He also revealed that the children further risked being attacked by hippos from Swani and Methi dams as they crossed the Githanji bridge to get to school.
Jane Wanjiru, a mother to two school-going children, notes that she has to escort them to school every day as it was risky for them to walk over 7 kilometres to school unaccompanied.
Progressively, the institution is anticipated to bring into existence a new secondary school to promote continued studies in close proximity.
By Florence Kinyua
