The National Government will spend over Sh260M to construct new classrooms in Siaya County as part of preparations for the smooth transition into junior secondary school in 2023.
According to the County Director of Education, Mr Nelson Sifuna, 338 classrooms will be built in the county under the CBC infrastructure development programme which was announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta during the last Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Briefing the press after the County consultative meeting which was chaired by Siaya County Commissioner, Mohammed Barre, Sifuna said that 201 out of the county’s 242 schools will benefit from the programme.
He said that the project will help the institutions to solve infrastructural challenges occasioned by the 100 percent transitional policy which, he added, put a strain on the existing facilities.
The Director said that the programme will target the local contractors with the aim of empowering them economically. “We are targeting them so that they can be empowered economically and to have the money circulate in the villages,” said Sifuna.
According to figures that he released, Siaya Sub County will get 71 classrooms, followed by Bondo with 61 while Ugenya and Rarieda will each get 49 classrooms. Gem Yala and Gem Wagai sub counties will get 42 and 24 classroom respectively.
Sifuna urged local contractors to take advantage of the programme, assuring them that the relevant committees will give each person an equal opportunity.
“There will be no corruption in the process. It will be done above board and priority will be given to the local fundis (masons and carpenters) around the benefiting schools,” he said.
The Principal of Ramba Boys’ High School, Canon James Okoyo Ogweno, on behalf of the principals, hailed the government for the initiative, adding that school administrators were having nightmares on how they would handle the situation come 2023.
By Philip Onyango
