- Machakos School Alumni Association has led a 5km fundraising walk for the school’s Sh57 million Aquatic Stadium, a legacy project first conceptualised in 1968.
- PS Elijah Mwangi has linked the project to CBE’s sports pathway, while alumni chair Rtd Justice Philip Waki has said the pool will help nurture future Olympic swimmers.
- Rtd Major General Joseph Musomba has appealed to current students not to destroy school property, referencing a recent dormitory arson incident at the institution.
Machakos School Alumni Association (MSAA) on Saturday led the school fraternity in a 5-kilometre walk to fundraise for the School Aquatic Stadium.
The historic event was organised by MSAA under their Chairman Rtd Justice Philip Waki, and School Principal Mr. Benson Manoo. Old boys, some who left the school in the 1960s and 70s, participated in the morning walk, following a familiar route they used during cross-country marathons in their heydays.
Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary State Department for Sports Elijah Mwangi said investing in sports infrastructure would create a pathway for the development of talents as envisioned in the new Competency-Based Education. “In CBE, one of the pathways is Arts and sports. We have a future in sports. I’m happy that you are doing a swimming pool which can be used for practice by the school and the local community,” said Mwangi, adding that there was a bright future for careers in sports, with athletes making millions within a short period of time.
Machakos Governor aspirant Nzioka Waita, who was also a guest at the event, said the facility was an investment in the future of those who would choose swimming as a career. “This school is very consequential. Not all of you are going to pass exams, but all of you can succeed in life. There will be many opportunities available for you to earn an income,” said Waita.
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Alumni Chair Rtd Justice Philip Waki said the swimming pool was their legacy project, conceptualised in 1968 but not actualised at the time. During that period, the boys participated in a walk from Machakos to Nairobi and raised Sh10 million, but the funds were used to construct a dormitory and a laboratory instead. He said Machakos School had produced great leaders, but for too long the students had concentrated only on academics. “The swimming pool will nurture swimming champions. There’s no reason why the next Olympic swimmer should not come from Machakos School,” said Waki.
The project will cost Sh57 million to complete. The County Government of Machakos has provided architectural plans and excavators for the works. Waki appealed to more members of the Alumni to come on board and support the project, adding that there is a critical mass which has remained committed to supporting the school.
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School Principal Bernard Manoo, who is also an alumnus, said the construction was ongoing, with excavation having been done last year. He said he was happy to see the project come to fruition during his time.
Rtd Major General Joseph Musomba, the oldest member of the Alumni, who left the school in 1962, made an impassioned appeal to the current generation of students not to destroy school infrastructure whenever they were aggrieved. “This school is now your home. You may be dissatisfied by many things, but you do not destroy your home. I plead with you, my children, my grandchildren, not to burn your school,” said Musomba. He spoke in the wake of recent unrest at the school, in which students burnt down a dormitory.
By Stephen Muthini
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