Residents of Kamwana village in Ngariama Ward, Gichugu Constituency, have welcomed the establishment of a new primary school funded by the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), a project expected to significantly improve access to education for young learners in the area.
The new school will serve children in Grades One to Four, sparing them from walking more than five kilometers to schools in Kiambatha and Ngariama. Parents say the long distances exposed children to numerous risks, including attacks by wild animals and encounters with strangers, while also forcing them to leave home before dawn and return late in the evening.
Speaking during the official opening of the classrooms, Gichugu Member of Parliament Githinji Gichumu said the project marks the beginning of efforts to establish a fully-fledged primary school in Kamwana.
“We are starting with the resources we have. Our vision is to expand this institution over the coming years so that children in the upper grades will also be able to learn here,” Gichumu said.
He noted that the NG-CDF had acquired two acres of land for the school, with room for future expansion when more funds are available. He also thanked local residents who sold part of their land to facilitate the project.
“We are grateful to the parents who agreed to sell their land to the NG-CDF. Their support has made it possible for us to begin this important project,” he added.
Residents expressed gratitude for the new school, saying it will improve children’s safety and reduce the burden of long daily walks.
Pauline Wangai , parent, said pupils previously faced numerous dangers while travelling to and from school.
“We thank the NG-CDF for bringing this school closer to us. Our children used to leave home before dawn and sometimes returned late in the evening. Along the way they would encounter strangers, making us constantly worry about their safety,” she said.
Another parent said children were also at risk of attacks by wild animals, particularly monkeys, while walking through bushy sections on their way to school.
The new institution is expected to boost school enrolment in Kamwana and provide a safer, more convenient learning environment for young children as the community looks forward to its future expansion.
By Mutai Kipng’etich
