- MP Boyd Were handed over a new 67-seater bus to St. Joseph’s Sino Secondary School, days after the school completed a major classroom, dormitory and science lab renovation funded through NG-CDF and community contributions.
- The NG-CDF office has further earmarked funds to equip the school’s computer lab and build additional classrooms to absorb the growing Grade 10 cohort under the CBC system.
- Were pledged to replicate similar infrastructure, bursary and teacher-motivation projects in other schools within the constituency, as St. Joseph’s Sino joins a wider list of institutions receiving such support to curb dropout rates and boost transition to tertiary education.
St. Joseph’s Sino Secondary School has become the latest institution in Kasipul Constituency to benefit from a wave of infrastructure investment sweeping the region, after Area MP Boyd Were on Monday handed over a brand-new 67-seater bus to the school, weeks after it completed a sweeping renovation of its classrooms, dormitories and science laboratories.
The renovation, financed through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and supplemented by contributions from the local community, saw the school fitted with new roofing, freshly painted classrooms, refurbished science laboratories and newly installed water tanks to improve sanitation. According to the MP, the facelift is designed to restore the institution to its former standing as one of the region’s top-performing schools.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, attended by parents, teachers, students and local leaders, Were said the new bus would resolve long-standing transport difficulties that had made it hard for students to attend academic trips, sports competitions and national examinations. The school’s principal, addressing the same gathering, said the institution had for years been forced to borrow vehicles whenever learners needed to travel, an arrangement that drained both time and money.
“For a long time we have been borrowing buses for trips and exams. Owning this bus will save us money and time. The renovation has also given our students pride in their school,” the principal said, thanking the MP and the Board of Management for the support.
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Were told the gathering that the NG-CDF office had already set aside additional funding to equip the school’s computer laboratory and put up extra classrooms, a move intended to accommodate the expanding Grade 10 cohort brought about by the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). He framed the bus and the completed renovations as part of a continuum of investment in the school rather than a one-off gesture.
“We have walked this school together. When I came here, the dormitories were leaking, labs had no equipment, and students struggled to get to games. Today we are handing over a bus, and tomorrow we will be talking about university scholarships for top students,” he said.
The MP further argued that the improvements went beyond bricks, mortar and machinery, describing them instead as a direct investment in the futures of the learners who pass through the school. “A child who learns in a good environment and has the right tools will compete with any other child in Kenya. This bus is not just metal and tyres. It is an investment in the future of our children,” Were said.
Parents who attended the ceremony welcomed the developments, with one noting that rising household costs had made it increasingly difficult for families to support their children’s education, making government-backed projects such as this one especially significant. “This school built a reputation in academic excellence years ago. With this bus and the new buildings, we believe our children will bring that glory back,” she said.
Were used the occasion to urge students to make good use of the improved facilities, calling on them to remain disciplined and focused on their studies as the school works to reclaim its academic standing. “I have promised you education development, and we are delivering. Use this bus well. Study hard. Let Sino be known again for producing doctors, engineers and leaders,” he told the students. He also committed to rolling out similar interventions in other schools across the constituency, with an emphasis on infrastructure development, bursary support and teacher motivation.
The event closed with a prayer led by the MP, followed by a tour of the newly renovated facilities before the bus keys were formally handed over to the school administration. St. Joseph’s Sino Secondary now joins a growing list of schools within the constituency benefiting from such infrastructure support, part of a broader push by local leadership to reduce dropout rates and strengthen transition into tertiary institutions.
By Enock Okong’o
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