First Lady Rachel Ruto has launched several projects at Unoa Comprehensive School in Makueni Sub-county that she initiated last year, geared towards improving the welfare of children at the institution.
Among the projects she commissioned Thursday include a bore hole, nine refurbished classrooms, a solar water system and an improved playground, all aimed at creating a conducive environment for the children.
The projects have been completed in partnership with the Dawoodi Bohra Community, National Water harvesting and Storage Authority, Makueni county government and other government agencies.
Following drilling of the bore hole, the school fraternity can now access clean and reliable water, effectively ending years of acute shortage of the same.
At the same time, the availability of water has enabled learners at the facility to have a kitchen garden, hence improving their nutrition status, besides contributing to the overall national food security.
“What has touched me most is what Unoa Comprehensive School has done with this change. Unoa did not wait; you took action. The kitchen garden you have created with fruit trees and nutritious crops is a powerful statement. It means that you received change and built on it. I am proud of that,” said Mrs Ruto during the official handover ceremony at the Unoa Sports Ground on Thursday.
“To our learners, the kitchen garden feeds you. It is teaching you. It is preparing you for a future where you are not just learners but creators, innovators and problem solvers. I am happy the seeds planted here are no longer just growing in this school compound but are also growing in your homes.
I have been told learners like Samuel Wambua (Grade 7) and Mitchell Mwende (Grade 4), among many others, have already started kitchen gardens at their homes.
Also, Justine Kisilu, a teacher, is leading by example showing that true teaching does not end at the classrooms, it lives on, when well modelled, this is a culture being born, with a school inspiring homes,” added the First Lady.
It should be noted that the greening of Unoa Playground started last year in June, when Mrs Ruto graced the Day of the African Child, held on the then dusty ground that impacted negatively on the health of the children, as a result of which she promised to ensure grass is planted on the field.
During the event, Mrs Ruto urged parents to protect the progress already achieved, besides challenging them to support their children in their education in a bid to ensure the school becomes a model school.
The First Lady also urged the learners to use the newly refurbished classrooms and the conducive learning opportunities they now have to become whatever they want to become in this life.
During the event, Mrs. Ruto equally provided 1,700 pairs of shoes for learners at the Unoa Comprehensive School, as well as 25 computers that will facilitate them to acquire digital skills.
The First Lady lauded the Dawoodi Bohra Community for mobilising resources to renovate the nine classrooms, saying their kind gesture had restored dignity and created comfortable spaces where children can learn with pride in a conducive environment.
At the same time, she thanked the Bohra Community for pledging to construct a modern cooking kitchen and administration block at the Unoa Comprehensive School.
“Your generosity has done more than restoring buildings. You passionately embraced this school and mobilised resources and your time to make this a success. You have renovated lives and restored dignity. You have created spaces where children can learn with pride. You have made these classrooms accessible for children enabled differently, ensuring no child is left behind,” said Mrs Ruto.
Speaking at the same event, Gender Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo lauded the First Lady for the initiative that she said will transform the lives of children at Onoa Comprehensive School, besides improving the learning environment.
The CS also echoed the need for parents to improve learning facilities so that pupils can have smooth learning without any problems.
“I call for collective responsibility to protect the facilities accorded to this school. Now that you have a better environment to learn, work hard and improve your lives,” she urged the learners.
On her part, the Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili lauded the First Lady for the initiative, saying this will transform lives, besides creating a conducive environment for learning.
During the event, Mulili donated 50 bags of 90kgs, 50 bags of rice and 30 bags of beans, 20 bags of cow peas, 60 bales of wimbi flour and 15 jerricans of cooking oil to the school.
Others present at the function included Children Services PS Carren Ageng’o, her Water counterpart Julius Korir, a representative from the Dawoodi Bohra Community Abdul Zakir, the school head teacher Winfred Sila, Makueni County Commissioner khalif Abdullahi and other national and county officials.
By Patrick Nyakundi
