Makueni: Celebrations engulfed Unoa Comprehensive School in Makueni Sub-County, as students, parents, teachers, and the local community received their new bus. The bus was purchased through contributions from the school's alumni and parents and also funding from the Makueni National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
According to Kenya News Agency, addressing the jubilant students and parents during the handover ceremony, Makueni Member of Parliament (MP) Susan Kiamba lauded the school Board of Management (BoM) and other stakeholders for contributing towards the project aimed at alleviating transport problems at the school. Kiamba challenged other schools to embrace people who dare to dream or come up with a challenge to take them to another level.
'Many a time, we remain unsuccessful in our homes and at the country level because we don't have dream-driven people. When we have people with a vision, it is possible to mobilize resources and achieve a measure of success,' said Kiamba while addressing students and parents at the school compound. 'I am grateful to the alumni of this school, especially the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Commissioner Caroline Nzilani for mobilizing resources that led to the realization of this project,' she added.
However, the MP said that going forward, she will only assist schools to buy buses if they have already constructed adequate laboratories and classrooms for their learners. 'We can't give you a bus when you don't have a laboratory or enough classrooms,' she reiterated. Kiamba also said Unoa school needed a perimeter wall, which she promised to construct in phases within the next three financial years, owing to inadequate resources.
'It will take us three years to fund the project through NG-CDF. I urge Nzilani and other well-wishers to support this venture and secure this institution,' she said. On her part, Nzilani, who is also the vice chairperson of the school BoM and patron of alumni, thanked all those who contributed to the project. She said this was a milestone for the school community, as the bus will improve their mode of transport.
'This bus will give students an opportunity to access events like educational tours, music festivals, and other co-curricular activities that were unreachable before,' she said. Commissioner Nzilani reminded students that they were the future leaders and the upcoming professionals in various fields, as well as innovators; hence, the need to work hard in their studies.
'You must work hard, maintain discipline, and believe in yourselves so that you can be successful,' she observed. 'As patrons of the school alumni, where there is a lack, we will continue to lend our support. I also pledge to sponsor all top performers from each class for an educational tour to Nairobi,' she said.