Learners at Karimamwaro primary school in Kandara Sub County, Murang’a County are set to benefit from a Sh30m infrastructure project commissioned by the M-Pesa foundation.
The upgrade project will oversee the renovation of six classrooms from Grade 1 to Grade 6, construction of three Junior secondary classrooms, renovation of an early Childhood Development (ECDE) Centre, the construction of a science laboratory, a fully equipped library and ablution block for boys, girls and one for the staff.
Additionally, the facelift will ensure the school has a water harvesting system and storage tanks installed to help in water conservation.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony, Safaricom Foundation chairman Joseph Ogutu observed that the foundation was keen on transforming lives and investing in school renovation projects while focusing on the neediest cases to ensure the Kenyan child gets an equal chance to education.
“Throughout our years of working with Kenyan communities we have come to appreciate that Education, Health and Economic Empowerment are some of society’s pressure points and where there is potential to change our communities for the better,” he said.
“We therefore continue to collaborate with various partners including the Ministry of Education, county governments and local communities to invest in school renovation projects,”he added
Ogutu emphasised on the need for education as it has the power to unlock the potential of communities and enhance the livelihood of a people regardless of their background.
Since its inception in 2010, the M-Pesa Foundation’s education programmes have benefitted over 1.3 million learners in all the 47 counties through infrastructure projects and the M-Pesa foundation academy which enrols children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Education PS Belio Kipsang lauded the foundations efforts to support education in the country and reiterated that the ministry had put plans in place for the transition of Grade 9 learners in January 2025
“So far we have already set aside 300m for the construction of Grade 9 classrooms and the project should be on course,” he noted adding that, “The ministry has already distributed 9.9 million books for all the learners in Grade 9 and we also have also recruited 20,000 new teachers that have been hired and trained on handling the learners so that their learning will not be interrupted,” he said.
Other leaders who graced the event included CS Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Andrew Karanja, PS Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho, KRA Chairperson Anthony Mwaura, Murang’a County Women representative Betty maina among others.
Meanwhile, in support of the 15b National tree Growing restoration Campaign, the CS Agriculture handed over 11,000 seedlings of macadamia, hass avocados and coffee trees to promote environmental restoration and sustainable farming.
By Florence Kinyua
