Parents and students in Kamukunji Constituency were filled with joy after the launch of a free day secondary school education programme funded through the National Government-Constituencies Development Fund (N-GCDF).
The initiative, spearheaded by Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan, aims to ease the financial burden on families struggling to pay school fees amid the rising cost of living.
A total of Sh8.13 million has been allocated to support 542 students, enabling them to access free secondary education.
Speaking during the issuance of cheques, Hassan pledged to sustain the programme to ensure every child in the constituency has access to education regardless of their financial background.
“We will continue with the gesture to make sure no student is left behind because of lack of school fees,” Hassan assured residents and education stakeholders during the event.
The lawmaker made the remarks while officially opening six newly constructed classrooms, 33 ablution block rooms, and a basketball court at Kamukunji Senior School.
The new facilities are expected to help decongest overcrowded classrooms and improve the learning environment for students in the area.
“Today, Kamukunji notched another major milestone. From this term onwards, every student at Kamukunji Senior School in Pumwani will enjoy free education,” the MP said.
Residents and education stakeholders welcomed the move, describing it as a major relief to parents who have long struggled to meet school fee requirements.
Several speakers at the event urged other MPs across the country to emulate the Kamukunji initiative and invest more resources in education.
Residents also vowed to identify children who are still at home due to lack of school fees so they can benefit from the programme and return to school.
The event comes barely a month after parents in Kamukunji called on the government to fully implement free education in public schools.
They argued that despite receiving bursaries through the NG-CDF, many parents are still required to pay approximately Sh24,000 in school fees, which remains unaffordable for many households grappling with harsh economic conditions.
Earlier this year, about 6,600 students from the constituency benefited from Sh68 million disbursed through bursary allocations to support education. Hassan noted that the demand for educational support has steadily increased over the last 15 years due to growing enrolment in schools.
He attributed the rise in school attendance to efforts aimed at keeping children, particularly boys, away from crime, drug abuse, and other social vices that have affected sections of the constituency.
The MP also used the occasion to issue a stern warning against individuals involved in grabbing public land, especially land reserved for schools and other public utilities.
