Tharaka Constituency MP Gitonga Murugara has announced that all day secondary schools in the constituency will operate without charging school fees, cautioning principals against sending learners home over non‑payment.
Addressing education stakeholders at Mukothima market, the legislator said parents will only be expected to provide basic necessities; uniforms, books, and shoes, to ensure students attend classes consistently.
Murugara said any administrator who defies the directive will face consequences, adding that his office will convene an education stakeholders’ conference in February to agree on shared responsibilities, verify accurate student numbers, and set out how funds will be distributed to each institution. “All our day schools will be free. Our students will only need uniforms, books and shoes. No one should send day school students home over school fees, and anyone who goes against this will not be spared,” he said.
The MP highlighted ongoing investments in school infrastructure across Tharaka, noting the constituency’s network of about 275 public primary schools and 70 secondary schools. He cited upgrades at Riamwanki, where seven new classrooms have been built, as an example of the scale of improvements, adding that each school has received at least two new classrooms under his tenure.
Reaffirming education as a top priority, Murugara said his office will continue expanding facilities to improve learning outcomes and student performance. Planned projects include modern classrooms, administration blocks, and well‑equipped laboratories to create a more conducive environment for teaching and learning.
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“We will continue investing in modern education facilities…to create a conducive learning environment for our students,” he said.
Despite the constituency’s vastness, Murugara lamented that poor management in some schools has contributed to average performance. He urged parents to enroll their children in local institutions rather than focusing solely on long‑established boarding schools, noting a new policy to place bright students in nearby schools to strengthen local performance and retention.
Defending his development record, the MP said the progress achieved aligns with the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG‑CDF) allocations received, and pledged continued oversight to ensure schools adhere to the free day secondary policy while improving governance and accountability.
By John Majau
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