Mathira CDF dismisses claims of not funding school

MATHIRA CDF has defended itself over allegations that it has deliberately been refusing to fund rehabilitation of Kabiru-ini Primary School. A local committee member, Mwai Ihatu, who is also a close ally of Mathira MP Ephraim Maina, dismissed the allegations as cheap politics.

Speaking in Nyeri town yesterday, Mwai said the school has benefited from a Sh 300,000 donation. “The local community and even aspiring leaders should not bring politics in schools. The sitting MP has done much even using his own pocket money. We are not ignoring any part of constituency,” added the committee member. He said they will this week take a cheque to the school from the CDF in order for the old classes to be renovated immediately.

The school’s head teacher Josphat Kahia Rubua had complained that the school’s physical structures are in dilapidated situation and lacks an equipped library which is a barrier to effective teaching and learning. “Lack of power supply hinders us from participating in activities that require modern technological approach to present day solutions to effective teaching and learning for the 436 pupils in the school,” lamented Rubua.

Rubua who was accompanied by Nairobi businessman Rigathi Gachagua regretted how the school had sunk to a state of disrepair saying that it was not conducive for learning anymore and therefore needed urgent facelift. “The improvement of schools’ infrastructure should not be left alone to the Ministry of Education but community members should chip in since the bulk of the ministry’s budget ended up footing the wage bill for teachers,” said Gachagua said. The school’s head teacher said that the institution requires Sh 5 million to renovate the dilapidated classrooms that have leaking roofs and earthen floors as well as complete others that stalled midway more than a decade ago.