Narok: Maasai Girls High School, located in Narok County, has received a significant donation of Sh105 million from the Merck Foundation aimed at enhancing the school's infrastructure and supporting vulnerable students through fee sponsorships.
According to Kenya News Agency, the donation has been allocated towards constructing a dormitory to house 1,000 students, building a new dining hall, and providing scholarships for 20 students from needy backgrounds. During a visit to inspect the ongoing projects, Merck Foundation chairperson Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp emphasized the importance of creating a supportive educational environment for girls, noting that the dormitories serve as a second home and should be comfortable to facilitate optimal academic performance.
The event was attended by Narok County Women Representative Rebecca Tonkei and the school's Board of Management members, led by chairperson Charity Kisotu. Tonkei expressed gratitude for the Foundation's investment in the school, highlighting the positive impact on the community and the importance of education as a collective responsibility. She urged the students to appreciate and maintain the new facilities to benefit future generations.
Tonkei also encouraged the girls to focus on their studies to achieve excellent results in national examinations, sharing her own experience of educational support through the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, which contributed to her success and political career.
Charity Kisotu, an alumna of Maasai Girls High School, motivated the students by sharing her journey from a humble background to becoming a prominent civil servant. She emphasized the significance of the donation in providing a conducive learning environment for the students.
Chief Principal Cecelia Teeka noted that the school currently accommodates 1,600 girls and is staffed by 60 teachers. The donation is expected to play a crucial role in addressing infrastructure challenges and supporting the educational aspirations of many students in Narok County.