Uriri Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Nyamita has announced an ambitious school solarisation programme targeting learning institutions across Uriri Constituency following a fire incident that destroyed a dormitory at Bware Mixed Secondary School.
Speaking when he visited the school to assess the damage caused by the inferno, Nyamita said the initiative seeks to reduce energy costs in schools while minimizing risks of fire outbreaks linked to electrical faults.
The dormitory, which housed about 100 students, was reduced to ashes earlier in the week after a suspected electrical fault triggered the blaze, leaving learners counting huge losses.
Nyamita said Bware Mixed Secondary School had been enlisted among the first batch of 10 schools set to benefit from the solarisation initiative under the constituency’s green energy programme.
“We have rolled out a school solarisation programme and this school is among the first 10 beneficiaries of the programme,” said Nyamita.
He added that another 10 schools would be incorporated into the project during the next financial year as the programme expands across the constituency.
According to the legislator, solar panels for Bware Mixed Secondary School had already been delivered and the institution would mainly rely on solar energy while electricity supplied by Kenya Power would serve as a secondary source.
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“The programme will help schools reduce the burden of rising electricity bills while at the same time improving safety in learning institutions,” he said.
Nyamita further directed the school administration to conduct regular electrical integrity checks in all buildings to ensure safety standards are maintained and future fire incidents prevented.
The MP donated mattresses and blankets to students affected by the fire and also provided iron sheets for re-roofing the destroyed dormitory.
“Today we donated assorted items to help restore normal life for the students affected by the fire incident and also help the school regain stability,” he said.
However, he noted that the damaged building had already been condemned and announced that the school would receive Ksh500,000 to assist students replace uniforms, toiletries and other personal belongings lost in the inferno.
Nyamita also pledged to engage education stakeholders over the school’s declining academic performance and shortage of teachers in critical subjects.
“We shall work closely with education stakeholders to ensure the school gets additional teachers and improve its academic standards,” he said.
The legislator criticized the Migori County Government over what he termed delayed response to the disaster, accusing the current administration of failing residents during emergencies.
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“The current county administration has failed Migori residents. Incidents like this should not happen when there are funds allocated to counter such disasters,” Nyamita said.
“I am shocked that at this time there is still no response from the county government,” he added.
Nyamita, who has declared interest in the Migori gubernatorial seat in 2027, said disaster preparedness and emergency response would be among his top priorities if elected governor.
He was accompanied during the visit by West Kanyamkago MCA Peter Mijungu and Uriri parliamentary aspirant Evance Ogutu.
Mijungu faulted the county government over what he described as weak disaster response mechanisms and challenged the county assembly to strengthen oversight on the utilization of emergency funds.
Ogutu praised the solarisation programme, saying the green energy initiative would help schools lower operational costs while reducing risks associated with electrical faults.
“This initiative is timely because it promotes safety in schools while also helping institutions save money spent on electricity bills,” Ogutu said.
Education stakeholders present during the visit welcomed the programme, expressing optimism that the adoption of solar energy in schools would improve learning environments while enhancing safety and sustainability across institutions in the constituency.
By Kimutai Langat
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