Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo has called on schools in the constituency to plant trees, especially fruit-bearing varieties, and to venture into beekeeping as a strategy to generate income and boost learning.
Speaking during the opening and handing over of a modern dining hall to the Board of Management at Irianyi Secondary School in the constituency, Gisairo said schools should use available land to grow mangoes, avocados, guavas, and other fruit trees while setting up beehives to produce honey for sale.
“Schools should not only rely on capitation and fees. If we plant fruit trees and keep bees, we can raise money for desks, books, and feeding programs while teaching our children practical skills,” Gisairo said.
The MP noted that fruit trees would improve nutrition by providing fresh produce for school meals, helping fight malnutrition among learners.
He added that surplus fruits could be sold to raise funds, easing the financial burden on parents.
On beekeeping, Gisairo said a single beehive can produce 10 to 20 kilograms of honey per harvest.
With honey retailing at KSh800 to KSh1,200 per kilo, schools stand to earn significant income from apiculture.
He also pointed out that bees improve pollination, which can increase fruit yields by up to 60 percent.
Gisairo said the initiative fits well with the Competency-Based Curriculum, giving students hands-on experience in agriculture, business, and environmental conservation. Through the projects, learners would gain skills in tree care, hive management, harvesting, and marketing.
He added that trees provide shade, reduce dust, cool classrooms, and prevent soil erosion on school compounds. They also absorb carbon dioxide, making schools active players in climate action, while bees enhance biodiversity and support crop production in surrounding farms.
“Let schools be models,” Gisairo said. “When parents see students earning from fruits and honey, they will adopt the same practices at home.”
He promised to use his NG-CDF funds well to improve infrastructure in schools for better education standards, adding that the dining hall cost more than KSh 12 million to complete.
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The MP urged school boards and heads to partner with the Kenya Forest Service and the Ministry of Agriculture for seedlings and training on beekeeping.
He noted that several schools in Nyamira County have already piloted similar projects, using proceeds to fund infrastructure and support needy students.
By Enock Okongo
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