Residents of Gathaiti sub location, Makuyu division Murang’a South Sub County broke into jubilation, song and dance during the official opening and launch of Gathaiti primary school.
The three classrooms, a store,a staffroom and a block of toilets according to the Maragua MP Mary Waithera (Wamaua) will mark the start of a fully-fledged primary school starting from the lower classes of grades one, two and three.
“As a government we are committed to Kenyan children accessing affordable education with ease without having to trek for kilometers to get to a school,” she said.
“Equitable education standards ensures that every child has a fair chance to fulfill their potential and rise to the highest level of accomplishment irrespective of their social background,” added Wamaua.
The MP noted that the residents of Gathaiti had for a long time longed to have a school in their own village to save the pupils the agony of travelling long distances to get to schools in the neighboring location.
One of the residents, Joyce Njeri, beaming with joy observed that having a school in Gathaiti area had been long overdue as the challenges pupils encounter to access the neighboring schools have been immense.
“Sometimes it is raining yet the little children have to walk several kilometers to school and by the time they get there, they are too tired to even concentrate in class,” noted Njeri.
“But having a school in this area means our children will be able to perform and excel in their primary years as it is closer to access” she added
At the same time Wambua condemned the alleged grabbing of land in the area after residents raised complaints that a certain individual was threatening to have them evicted.
“We will not allow any illegal evictions and if the person claiming ownership of this land has owned it rightfully and legally, he should present all his documents and explain how he acquired the land,” she warned.
Murang’a South Deputy County Commissioner Gitonga Murungi on his part assured the residents of his commitment to ensure no one evicts them from the land which is rightfully and legally theirs.
“Carry on with your daily livelihood activities without fear as I will not allow anyone to grab and evict people from their land in any part of Murang’a South,” stated Murungi.
The DCC further urged the residents to remain calm and peaceful as they utilize the social amenities in the area as all the right channels will be followed to ensure the land they have lived on for more than 15 years is not grabbed by a few greedy individuals.
The land in question and in which the new primary school has been constructed belongs to the defunct Gathaiti farmers’ cooperative society but has recently seen an individual investor claim ownership to it.
By Florence Kinyua
