By Norah Musega
Schools within Suna West constituency have received a major facelift in the past four years since the 2017 elections that saw Hon. Peter Francis Masara elected as Member of Parliament.
The constituency has been able to start new primary and secondary schools in a bid to bring education closer to children who have been trekking for long distances over the years, a norm the MP noted had resulted in an increase in the number of school drop outs.
The constituency currently has 61 primary and 24 secondary schools with a population of 38,015 learners, a major milestone for the MP who says he decided to prioritize the education sector to help develop a brighter future for his constituents.
“Education is an equalizer and therefore my major focus has been to ensure our children are able to access it close to home and in the cheapest way possible. Upgrading the face of infrastructure in schools will definitely contribute towards the development of this region and the country,” said Masara.
Since his election into office, Masara boasts of starting and registering 17 new public primary and secondary schools within the constituency other than elevating infrastructure in existing schools.
This, he terms as fulfilling the pledge he gave his electorates during the 2017 general election campaigns where he was elected on an independent ticket, Masara capitalized on education as main pledge if elected after his humble background was taunted by rivals in election trails.
“I grew up in Oruba within Migori town where we brewed chang’aa to earn a living and to be able to attend school. The chang’aa business was the only source of income in our family and this has therefore made it easy for me to closely relate with the issues that affect the people of this constituency especially the children who remain thirsty for education to realize their dreams,” he added.
From his humble background of growing up in a home where chang’aa was being brewed and working in the brick making sector to personally finance his education, the legislator has also increased the amount of bursaries awarded per student to Sh. 10,000.
“I believe that education is the only key to change a society and the schools have been started under needs assessment from public participation,” he said.
The legislator said he felt the urge and need for Wiga Ward which is the heart of gold mining, to come up with a fully registered government girls’ secondary school such as St. Peters Abwao and Masara Secondary School which were mixed schools initially.
“These schools have helped to shape girls’ education in the world. In 2018, we started from the purchase of land and construction of the first building in one of the schools under the Suna West NG-CDF and has now developed to having a dormitory, two teachers quarters and classrooms. Today we have a new administration block,” Masara said.
He said the Oruba-Ragana ward, which is within Migori town and with high population density, saw existing schools being overwhelmed as the new schools have an average of 1,000 students, making their resources overstretched.
“Most of the learners from outside town had to trek for long to access education, we have worked tirelessly to change that,” he added.
Masara said he has been seeking education as a hallmark of his leadership and proved the same with 17 new primary and secondary schools he has started from scratch in the constituency’s four wards and that he is optimistic to be re-elected on his development records:
Oruba Ragana Ward
§ Ragana Girls Secondary
§ Wuoth Ogik Primary
§ John Okwanyo Primary
§ Oruba Dip Primary School
§ St Celestino Nyangubo Girls Secondary School
Waswetta 2 Ward
§ Kipasi Songa Primary
Wasimbete Ward
§ Jumbo Primary
§ Kowiti Memorial Primary
§ St Peters Nyamaraga Primary
§ Magongo Bongu Primary
§ Giribe Maseno Primary
§ Nyahera Primary
Wiga Ward
§ St. Francis Wiga Girls Secondary
§ Got Kweru Primary
§ Mariba Primary
§ Ndemra Primary
