By Violet Auma
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Kakamega County Chairperson, Michael Amukoa Ochiel, has called for the urgent release of capitation funds to ensure the smooth running of schools.
Ochiel, who is also the Principal of Bukhwaywa Secondary School, urged the government to disburse the funds on time. “The government has been making empty promises regarding the release of capitation funds. If this situation persists, we might be forced to send students home for school fees soon,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Kakamega Woman Representative, Elsie Muhanda, who urged the government to ensure timely disbursement of capitation funds to prevent disruption of learning.
“It is unfortunate that the Treasury has delayed releasing the funds despite CS John Mbadi announcing the release of KSh 48.8 billion for capitation. This delay has left many principals with no choice but to send students home for school fees,” Muhanda stated.
The two leaders spoke during the official handover of a 200-bed capacity dormitory at Bukhwaywa Secondary School, a project funded by the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC).
“I sincerely thank Kenya Pipeline Corporation for responding to my plea. When I visited Bukhwaywa Secondary, I found that many girls were walking long distances to school. This exposes them to risks such as teenage pregnancies and affects their concentration in class. Now, with this dormitory, the girls have a safe place to stay, and we believe their academic performance will improve,” Muhanda said.
Kenya Pipeline Foundation Manager, Rachael Gathoni, while handing over the KSh 5 million dormitory, emphasized the importance of safety in all their projects.
“Safety is a top priority for KPC due to the nature of our business, which involves transporting volatile and flammable products. As a result, we ensure all our projects meet critical safety recommendations from the government. The dormitory has been designed with adequate aeration and materials that minimize fire risks. We have seen too many school tragedies, and we are committed to preventing them,” she explained.
Over the years, Kenya has experienced a surge in school fires, often leading to loss of life and destruction of property. Incidents of dormitory fires have been reported across various schools, raising concerns over student safety.
In response, the government has introduced stringent safety measures, including banning the locking of dormitory doors from outside, ensuring adequate ventilation, and using fire-resistant building materials. Schools have also been urged to install fire extinguishers and conduct regular fire drills to enhance preparedness.
She said that in Kakamega County alone, KPC has invested KSh 20 million in education projects, including constructing dormitories and classrooms, purchasing school buses, and offering scholarships. Also through the INUKA program, KPC has sponsors students living with disabilities from Form 1 to Form 4 and supports those who excel in their studies in pursuing higher education.
“Earlier today, we also handed over two newly constructed classrooms at Shivagala School.” Gathoni said.
Ochiel called on other well-wishers to support the school by fencing it, emphasizing that it is a girls’ school and still in need of additional facilities, including a boys’ dormitory.
“I appeal to other organizations to heed our call. We appreciate KPC for this generous partnership,” he added.
