Kwa Njenga Primary School has officially received eight classrooms and three ablution blocks after the completion of a project sponsored by the United States Department of Defence.
The event graced by the Principal Secretary (PS) for Basic Education, Julius Bitok, Acting United States Ambassador to Kenya, Marc Dillard and Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard, Major General Gary Keefe, is a significant occasion that marks an innovative move to reduce the problem of insufficient learning facilities that the school was initially facing.
The project will go a long way in helping the school solve congestion, by bringing in State-of-the-Art classrooms and a more conducive learning environment for the children of Mukuru kwa Njenga.
Kenya allocates 30 percent of its National Budget to education and the project comes at a time, when the government is redoubling its commitment to invest in education, hence, the project would go a long way in complementing the efforts.
PS Bitok noted the significance of the refurbishment of the slum School in enhancing access to basic education, particularly for those from traditionally disadvantaged groups and marks a milestone for the children of Mukuru kwa Njenga Primary.
While appreciating the United States Department of Defence and the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), PS Bitok acknowledged the invaluable support, noting that the facelift would accord learners a conducive environment to pursue their aspirations.
Bitok emphasised that Kenya would continue to partner with the US and other development partners in various spheres that would better the lives of Kenyans.
“Through initiatives like this, the US has continuously demonstrated its commitment to partners with us and the people of Kenya appreciate this gesture and respect,” acknowledged Bitok.
The PS said that the government has so far constructed 16,000 classrooms for grade nine learners all over the country to cater for the transition in the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).
Ambassador Marc Dillard hailed the cordial relationship between, Kenya and the US describing the ties as historical spanning over 60 years of partnership in various socio-economic collaboration.
He revealed that the project was successfully undertaken at a cost of USD 650,000 in collaboration with the Kenya’s Ministry of Education, noting that the initiative, is set to improve the educational experience of more than 600 leaners.
Dillard stated that the initiative was not only a matter of renovating the school but also touch the future of pupil who are country’s custodians in the coming years.
“We are empowering the next generation of Kenyan leaders, innovators and change-makers,” Dillard emphasized.
The School Principal, Damaris Oyugi, expressed her gratitude to the sponsors of the project, saying that it will go a long way in bettering the learning experience of the pupils.
By Jesee Otieno and Vanessa Muhati
