Safaricom M-PESA Foundation is set to undertake Sh115 million infrastructural upgrades of Sango and Makhwabuye Comprehensive schools in Lugari Constituency, Kakamega County.
Under the multi-million infrastructural development initiative, Sango and Makhwabuye Comprehensive schools will benefit from Sh60 million and Sh55 million respectively aimed at improving access to quality education, under the foundation’s Citizens of the Future Programme.
In both schools the foundation will construct 11 new classrooms, an administration block, a modern kitchen, a science laboratory and a 40-seater ICT laboratory.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrade at Sango Comprehensive School, Safaricom M-PESA Foundation Chairperson Joseph Ogutu said the initiatives are aimed at improving infrastructure in selected schools across the country and equipping the schools with ICT facilities to prepare learners to serve in a digital economy.
He said: “Safaricom M-PESA Foundation is putting a lot of emphasis in the education sector and that is why it is investing a lot in schools across the country. For Sango Comprehensive School our Board approved Sh60 million to transform the school.
“We are going to have a completely new school from Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) to junior school. We shall also construct a modern kitchen fitted with a heavy duty energy saving jiko to prepare meals for the learners.
The school will also get a science and an ICT laboratory-which will be fitted with computers and internet installed. What we are asking the school is that it should allow neighbouring schools to also utilise the laboratory to equip their learners with digital literacy skills,”Ogutu said
Ogutu said the school should also allow members of the public who wish to access government services like E-Citizen to access the ICT laboratory but at a small cost for its maintenance.
He said the foundation has given the contractor undertaking the construction works at least 8 months to complete the project.
Lugari lawmaker Nabii Nabwera commended Safaricom MPESA Foundation for supporting school infrastructural development in the constituency saying the upgrade will immensely improve the learning and teaching environment in the two schools.
He said: “As residents of Lugari Constituency we appreciate the foundation for accepting to invest heavily in our schools.
“As a constituency we have over 121 schools. When I was elected in 2022 we had 25 schools including Sango and Makhwabuye with mud walled classrooms. From the 25, 18 including Mohomo, Majengo, Mugunga and others had been condemned.
However, I have tried my level best and once the upgrade of the two is complete only two will be left, and I am working out on how to transform them.” the MP said
Nabwera said although there are many organisations operating within the country, it is only Safaricom that has shown a different and beneficial relationship with the public hence the public can only payback through loyalty.
“They have shown us they can share their profits without minding their balance sheet. They have proved to us that they are a social institution,” he stated.
