Why Kiharu day secondary school principals are on vacation abroad

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro addressing parents and students at Ihura Stadium

Twelve principals are on holiday in Dubai and Malaysia, facilitated by MP Ndindi Nyoro. 

The Kiharu MP started a programme last year under which principals of best-performing and most-improved day secondary schools in each of the six wards are rewarded with a holiday.

The incentive was to encourage competition amongst the schools. 

One of the principals, after leading the pack for two consecutive years, was treated to a different option.

“Mukangu secondary school principal already went to Dubai last year after his school led in his ward and led again this year, so instead of going back to Dubai, he chose a different destination,” Nyoro said. 

“We said we’d never punish success. Even if a principal leads every year, they will benefit from this programme every time.” 

The principals will stay for five days in their holiday destination, after which they will be ferried back to their homes – all expenses covered.

The holidays are aimed at thanking the teachers for leading their schools to improved performance, Nyoro said, while encouraging their counterparts to do better.

Teachers whose subjects were most-improved and best-performing are taken for holidays in Mombasa. 

“They board the Standard Gauge Railway to Mombasa, stay there for five days and then we fly them back to Nairobi and take them back home.” 

The MP, who spoke at Ihura stadium on Thursday, noted that the programme is being implemented under the Kiharu Fanikisha programme that also sponsors youth through short courses in local vocational training institutes. 

“But because the motivation programme cannot be covered by NGCDF, we look for extra funds from other sources to facilitate it.” 

The MP spoke during the graduation ceremony of 1,200 youth who have undertaken four-month free courses in cosmetology, driving and hospitality. 

Some of the 1,200 beneficiaries of Kiharu Fanikisha programme during their graduation at Ihura stadium

The training is aimed at empowering local youths and boosting their employability, the MP said, adding that young people have displayed enthusiasm for technical skills that have a growing demand in the job market. 

They are given certificates, while those who undertake driving courses are provided with smart driving licences. 

Since embarking on training local youth in driving years ago, many have acquired jobs, while others have become employers. 

“We decided to decentralise this training to make it even more affordable to youths and have been working with institutions that are closest to them in the grassroots. For driving, we take the training vehicles to them so they incur little expense.” 

The programme has also incorporated youths from other communities living in Murang’a town, which is cosmopolitan. 

He reiterated that education is a top priority for his NGCDF that also implements the Masomo Bora programme that waives fees for day secondary school students down to Sh1,000 per student every term. 

The students also access free food that includes rice during weekdays and chapati every last Friday of the month. 

The programme has also seen all 112 public primary schools renovated, tiled and their compounds installed with cabro blocks. 

Local MCAs who attended the event told off Nyoro’s political rivals who accused him of misusing his position as the chairperson of the budget committee in the national assembly to allocate more resources to his constituency. 

“Nyoro was doing these things even before he was elected to that seat and is still doing it now and we will remain solidly behind him,” Charles Karina, township MCA, said.