Residents and education stakeholders in Mbeti South have criticized the Embu County Government for failing to allocate funds to complete and operationalize Kiamuringa Village Polytechnic, which has remained abandoned for over 20 years.
Led by mediator and community elder John Peter Njiru, popularly known as Saddam, the stakeholders described the neglect of the institution as an embarrassment to the people of Embu County, particularly the growing number of school leavers in need of technical skills.
The group has demanded a meeting with the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Education, warning that failure to address their concerns will result in demonstrations and a sit-in at the county government headquarters.
They further expressed concerns over what they perceive as discrimination against the Mbeere South region by the county administration under Governor Cecily Mbarire, who hails from Runyenjes.
Njiru noted that although the polytechnic was completed, it has never been operationalized and lacks security, leaving it vulnerable to vandalism. He revealed that doors, wiring, and other electrical installations have been stolen over the years.
According to the elders, if the institution had been functional, it would have played a critical role in equipping the area’s youth with technical skills and reducing rising cases of drug and alcohol abuse among idle school leavers.
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Njiru accused successive leaders in both Mbeere South and the wider Embu County of ignoring repeated appeals from residents to revive the institution, terming its abandonment a waste of public resources.
He further alleged that some parts of Embu County, particularly Mbeere South, have been sidelined in the provision of technical training institutions, despite the national government’s increased focus on vocational education.
While acknowledging the elevation of Jeremiah Nyagah Polytechnic to a national institution, Njiru emphasized that smaller vocational centers across the county’s constituencies should not be neglected.
He also attributed the stalled project to political rivalry, claiming that incoming leaders often abandon projects initiated by their predecessors.
Njiru questioned why former Mbeere South MP Colonel (Rtd) Geoffrey King’ang’i failed to continue with the project after succeeding its initiator, former MP Mutava Musyimi.
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He added that the current MP, Engineer G. Muriuki, despite supporting technical education initiatives, has yet to rehabilitate and operationalize the abandoned facility.
“We appreciate the efforts by the current MP in promoting technical education, but it is puzzling that a fully constructed institution continues to go to waste,” Njiru said.
He called on Mbeere South leaders to review all technical institutions in the area and ensure equitable development, rather than concentrating resources in regions perceived to have specific political alignments.
Njiru also urged the Embu County Government to ensure fairness in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) programmes, citing disparities in infrastructure development and resource distribution.
He noted that several ECDE centers in Mbeere South and parts of Manyatta lack basic teaching materials, forcing teachers to improvise.
“Teaching and learning materials are essential, especially under the Competency-Based Education system, and must be equitably distributed,” he said.
By Robert Nyagah
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