There were celebrations at Bukhaywa Secondary School in Shinyalu Constituency during the handing over of a new dormitory for female students, built by Kenya Pipeline Company Limited (KPCL).
Kakamega County Woman Rep Elise Muhanda highlighted concerns about girls walking long distances to school, which contributed to teen pregnancies. She expressed gratitude to KPCL for the project, noting it would enhance the girls’ learning environment.
Muhanda also asked other companies to support local schools, mentioning the need for a perimeter wall for the dormitory’s safety.
Elsie commended KPCL for their construction of classrooms at Shivakala Secondary and encouraged other companies to join in supporting the school’s infrastructure development.
“The school requires a perimeter wall; our girls feel uneasy sleeping in the dormitory without proper fencing. While we assist this school, there are other institutions that also need support,” she stated.
The School Principal Michael Amukowa emphasized the challenges faced by needy students in becoming boarders and called for timely disbursement of capitation funds from the Ministry of Education, which has been delayed.
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The principal, who also serves as the Kakamega KESSHA chairperson, called on the Ministry of Education to ensure the timely disbursement of capitation funds to schools in order to support ongoing projects.
“The government committed to releasing these funds punctually, yet we have yet to receive any support. If this situation continues, the Boards of Management (BoM) may soon face legal action due to significant fee arrears,” he expressed with concern.
Rachael Gathoni, KPCL Foundation Manager, said that KSh5 million was spent on the dormitory, which can accommodate 200 students.
She noted that safety measures were prioritised during construction, aligning with government regulations to ensure dorms are not locked from the outside for emergency access.
By Hilda Atika
