State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke has launched a comprehensive Sh 62 million infrastructure modernization project at Bogesaka D.O.K. Primary and Junior Secondary School in Nyamache Sub-County, Kisii County.
The event held on Friday marked a deeply personal milestone for the Principal Secretary, who is an alumnus of the institution.
Speaking to the press after the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction works, PS Isaboke said the multi-million-shilling investment supported by M-PESA Foundation is designed to completely overhaul the school’s aging infrastructure and transform the school into a state-of-the-art academic hub.
“This is a particularly special moment for me as an alumni of the primary school because it brings back so many memories of being where these children are standing now, dreaming of what the future might hold. To return here today as a Principal Secretary, carrying the means to completely transform my former primary school, is the honor of a lifetime. This is where my journey started, and I want to ensure the journey for the next generation starts on an even stronger foundation,” he said.
Isaboke noted the project will involve the construction of new classrooms, science and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) laboratories among other facilities, to enable the students and community enhance their digital skills.
The Principal Secretary lauded the MPESA Foundation for their educational infrastructure upgrade programme countrywide, saying the initiative will bridge the digital divide and promote a safe learning environment for learners.
He also underscored that the project aligns with the national government’s strategic development frameworks under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“The implementation of these key milestones across Kisii County spanning digitized educational infrastructure to solar-powered dairy milk coolers demonstrates our steadfast commitment to actualizing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) at the grassroots level,” stated PS Isaboke.
He added that by cascading the Digital Superhighway infrastructure into primary and junior secondary institutions, the State Department is ensuring that the digital and creative economies envisioned under the BETA framework are fully accessible to rural youth, thereby fostering inclusivity and leaving no child behind.
Mpesa Foundation’s Project Manager Eng. Zachary Hamptons said the initiative is part of the foundation’s ‘Citizens of the Future’ programme aimed at improving the school’s infrastructure through the construction and equipping of classrooms, modern laboratories, a kitchen and ablution facilities, among others.
“We cannot build the future of our nation using yesterday’s tools and therefore, this programme is not just about laying bricks and mortar but installing fiber-optic internet, building digital labs, and equipping science rooms to ensure that we bring the digital economy directly to the learners of Bobasi Constituency,” said Eng. Hamptons.
He reaffirmed that the investment in education is expected to transform the lives of the learners and uplift the communities.
To ensure the new structures are fully functional, the partnership will also outfit the school with new furniture, specialized laboratory apparatus, and advanced ICT equipment.
Additionally, the installation of robust internet connectivity across the school will integrate digital learning into the daily curriculum, establishing a safe, technologically advanced learning environment.
With construction now underway, the entire modernization project is scheduled for completion by January 2027.
Local education officials and project partners expect the new facilities to address critical infrastructure deficits within the sub-county, ensuring that students have access to the resources necessary for competitive academic performance.
Ultimately, the initiative aims to bridge the digital divide for rural learners, providing the next generation of students in Kisii County with a modern and conducive environment to pursue their dreams.
By Mercy Osongo and Alfred Misheba
