Facebook post pokes Uhuru to help poor school

In July last year, a Kaloleni resident sent a desperate message to the Facebook account of Team Uhuru, a group that describes itself as a community backing the President.

“Kindly come to our rescue please,’’ read the message. The messenger then posted photos of a dilapidated Gabriel Kahindi Memorial Primary School in Mwanawinga, Kaloleni in Kilifi County.

The photos showed pupils learning in collapsing mud-walled classrooms sitting on stones. But those were the “lucky” ones.

Others were studying under trees and sometimes sent home either when it rained or the sun was too hot. It was a learning nightmare for the 352 pupils in the school.

The Facebook message caught the attention of staff at the country’s most powerful office and now, the school is scheduled for a face-lift.

This is after Team Uhuru Foundation, which is led by its patron Jomo Gecaga, who is President Kenyatta’s private secretary, came calling during the school’s second term. They were accompanied by officials of the Rural Electrification Authority led by their chairman Simon Gicharu.

PLEASANT SURPRISE

The school’s headteacher Geoffrey Mrimah said it was a pleasant surprise when the team arrived.

“They took photos of ongoing lessons under the trees. Some pupils were on the ground while few others sat on blocks and stones,” Mr Mrimah told the Nation at the weekend.

And last weekend, the team, in the company of Dr Gicharu and State House Digital Communication’s Director Dennis Itumbi, donated 125 desks. The authority commissioned a Sh5.4 million electrification project for the school.

“The situation of the school was unacceptable. Pupils not only share the dilapidated classes, but others study under trees,’’ Mr Itumbi said during the visit.

He added that the team decided to pool resources and buy the desks starting January.

“We wanted to do it on our own through the Team Uhuru Foundation. Since he (President Kenyatta) allowed us, it means he is supporting our initiative,” he said.

He said the President asked them to give the work to local carpenters, who offered to repair the institution for free if they receive raw materials.

ORGANISE HARAMBEE

Mr Itumbi said the desks cost Sh3, 200 each. Mr Itumbi asked the community to work with the school management and organise a harambee for the construction of classes and other essential infrastructure.

Mr Mrimah said the population of the school was growing, leading to an acute shortage of teachers.

“We currently have four teachers from the commission (Teachers Service Commission), one employed by parents and three for pre-school.

The five are often-times overwhelmed, forcing us to request preschool teachers to help,” Mr Mrimah said.

He, however, exuded confidence in the current Class Eight, who will be the first ones since the school’s inception in 2008.

“Despite the challenges we have gone through, we are doing our best to give the pupils the skills needed to succeed. Am sure they will do well,” the headteacher said.

He thanked the team and REA, which gave books worth Sh50,000 and asked TSC to assign more teachers.

Area MP Gunga Mwinga said: “Mwanawinga residents have for ages waited for power but we thank the Rural Electrification Authority for lighting this remote part of Kaloleni.”

He added that through the Constituency Development Fund, Sh3m had been set aside for development of the school.

“We will have two modern classrooms before June. We have the funds and we will ensure that is implemented,” he said.