Murang’a Woman Representative, Betty Maina, has sponsored the construction of ablution blocks in three primary schools in Maragua to enhance sanitation for the school children.
Speaking at Matanya primary school, the MP underscored the importance of a safe and conducive learning environment in public primary schools adding that sanitation is crucial for smooth running of educational institutions.
Maina who visited Kiyo, Muchagara and Matanya primary schools in Maragua Constituency where she delivered one million shillings to each school, said it is important that the welfare of children is prioritized.
The legislator said she was responding to a plea by residents to help them build new toilets in the schools and noted that the matter was a priority because it involved the safety of the children.
“A while back, worried residents from this area told me schools do not have safe toilets for their children. As leaders we cannot wait for a tragedy to happen then come to react after a child falls into the toilet,” she said.
Maina, who said the funds she delivered were a donation from the President, promised to bring more money noting that the one million shillings given to each of the schools will not be enough for completion of the toilets.
She called upon the Ministry of Health through the Department of Public Health to inspect the toilets in all primary schools and close those that are not safe.
Meanwhile, the MP challenged Members of Parliament to use some of the NG-CDF funds to improve basic infrastructure in schools saying citizens need to see proper utilization of the funds in their constituencies.
“It is a shame that the residents are asking the President for something as basic as toilets when there is NG-CDF,” Maina lamented.
Maina said that even as the leaders take different political positions they must first strive to serve the people who elected them.
One of the residents, Philomena Kariuki, stated that the poor state of toilets in schools has been a constant concern and added they are glad the children will be getting better ablution blocks.
“As parents, we worry that our children will contract diseases from the toilets, especially the small children in pre-school who have to use the same toilets with the older children,” Kariuki stated.
The head teacher Matanya primary school, William Mungai, commended the initiative by the Woman Rep noting that some toilets in the school are unsafe because they were built in 1967 when the school was started and are therefore at risk of collapsing.
By Purity Mugo
