The National Government through the Lamu West National Government Constituency Fund has spent at least Sh21 million to procure three school buses in a bid to improve transportation for teachers and students.
Speaking in Mpeketoni Girls school during the donation of the three buses to selected secondary schools, Lamu West MP, Stanley Muthama, stated that the buses were part of the national government’s initiative to not only improve infrastructure in schools but also ensure their accessibility to as many children within marginalized areas.
“Through the Lamu West CDF, we will ensure all the public schools are well equipped in terms of infrastructure and funding to ensure that education standards improve in the county,” the legislator said.
He further noted the Lamu West CDF was working towards ensuring that classrooms were improved in all the seven wards within the county with special emphasis being put in areas such as Maleli, Juhudi, Majembeni and Bahari primary schools that will get more classrooms.
Sentiments echoed by Lamu County Commissioner, Irungu Macharia, who lauded the initiative adding that other schools including communities around Kiongwe, Hongwe and Majembeni schools could borrow the buses for pressing transport needs.
He said that the school buses will ease transport for students and their teachers as well as benefit local communities travel to and from government sanctioned functions.
He stated that the national government is keen to ensure that all students access quality education adding that the security agencies are working around the clock to secure the schools for learning.
“The county security committee would like to assure parents and guardians that their children will be provided with the most conducive environment for learning,” he said, adding that adequate security will be provided for those sitting the KCPE and KCSE exams.
Lamu West CDF manager, Javan Lewela, on his part stated that apart from the school bus initiative for all schools in Lamu West, the national government was also working towards ensuring that all children receive their bursaries on time to ensure that learning is not interrupted due to fee delays.
“It is important to note that the Lamu West CDF bursary allocations are always done in a transparent and fair manner in order to ensure that monies are distributed equitably for all students within Lamu West,” Lamu West CDF Chairman Charo Kupata said.
the regional head of CDF coast region, Stella Tayo, complemented the initiative to provide buses for schools that have long been marginalized as a step towards improving the livelihoods of communities at the constituency level.
She further added that the NG-CDF will look into ways to increase allocation for areas such as Lamu that have been marginalized in the past with recommendations underway to allocate more funding towards school projects.
By Amenya Ochieng
