250 bright and needy Form one students from Athwana ward, Tigania West sub-county, have a reason to smile after a section of Meru County leaders raised more than Ksh2 million to cater for their school fees.
The leaders led by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mithika Linturi and MPs John Mutunga (Tigania West), Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri) and local MCAs also bought bedding and other essential items for the learners who performed well in the 2023 KCPE exams.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki donated funds to buy school uniforms and shoes for the students.
Speaking at a fundraiser during the Athwana Education Day at Karumo Technical Training Institute (TTI), area MCA Jim Muchui said that the initiative will contribute to the State’s 100 percent transition policy in the area.
“This is a hardship area and parents are facing great difficulties in raising fees for their children. So as the MCA, I decided to mobilize funds from my friends who love education. CS Kindiki, CS Linturi, and others have made good contributions,” he said.
MP Mutunga said that most residents were still reeling from last year’s prolonged drought and were further devastated after floods recently washed away their crops.
“People here depend on farming for revenue. There has not been any revenue generated over the last few months. Then El Nino came and that made it almost impossible to earn a living. We had more than 1,700 families that were displaced and that has been a major issue,” said the legislator.
Cosmas Akotha, a parent, said that the leaders’ initiative was a major relief for parents.
By John Majau
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