Thirty public schools across Kenya have undergone renovations during the August holiday through the Spread the Love campaign, a community outreach programme coordinated by Mavuno Church to improve learning environments in public primary schools.
The two-day activity held on August 9 and 10, 2025, mobilized volunteers, congregants and local communities to carry out repairs and upgrades worth approximately KSh9.2 million. The contributions, which included paints, brushes and construction materials, aimed to restore facilities ahead of the September re-opening.
Targeted institutions included Mlolongo Primary School, Thindigua Primary School, Kahawa Primary School, Kabete Vetlab, Serita Safe House, Gacharage High School, Lavington Primary School, Moi Avenue Primary School, Martin Luther Primary, Donholm Primary, Nakeel Primary School and Katani Primary School, among others.
Public primary schools in Kenya have long faced infrastructure challenges, worsened by increased enrolment since the introduction of free primary education in 2003. While the policy brought more than 1.5 million out-of-school children into classrooms within a year, many facilities have since become congested, with inadequate classrooms, desks and sanitation facilities.
ALSO READ;
Chuka University secures KSh66 million to fight aflatoxin in Kenya’s food chains
At Moi Avenue Primary School, headteacher Selina Keya said the institution’s historical buildings, dating back to 1938, require significant upgrades. She noted that while the school receives government funding, its low student population limits the amount, leaving key needs such as desks and updated library resources unmet.
Spread the Love has, over the past eight years, undertaken projects such as repainting classrooms, landscaping grounds, renovating ablution blocks and installing water tanks. Organizers say the initiative supplements government efforts by engaging volunteers, communities, and corporate partners to bridge maintenance gaps in schools.
According to Pastor Milton Jumba, Executive Pastor for Operations at Mavuno Church, some classrooms in the targeted schools have potholed floors, broken windows and doors, and insufficient furniture, forcing some learners to sit on the floor during lessons.
Education stakeholders have cautioned that funding gaps in public schools threaten daily operations and slow down infrastructure improvements. Organizers of the campaign hope that stronger partnerships between communities, private entities, and government will ease the financial burden on schools while creating safer and more conducive learning space.
By Benedict Aoya
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
