Kiambu Township MP Machua Waithaka during the groundbreaking of Kirigiti Primary School
Residents of Kirigiti in Kiambu Constituency have welcomed the construction of a new primary school in their neighbourhood.
The residents said the project will ease the burden on families whose children have for years walked approximately two kilometres to access basic education.
The residents spoke on Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony for Kirigiti Primary School, describing the project as a major relief for parents who have had to rely on schools in neighbouring areas due to the absence of a primary school within their community.
For years, children in Kirigiti have travelled to Kiuu River Primary School, Kiambu Primary School or Riabai Primary School to attend classes.
Kiambu Township MP Machua Waithaka during the groundbreaking of Kirigiti Primary School
The journeys have raised concerns among parents over road safety, the time spent travelling and the daily challenges faced by young learners.
Local resident Mary Wamaitha said the establishment of the school would bring education closer to families and reduce children's exposure to potential road accidents during their daily journeys.
“This school is a great relief to parents because our children will no longer have to walk long distances to access education. We are hopeful that bringing the school closer will reduce their exposure to road accidents and give parents greater peace of mind,” she said.
Wamaitha added that the project would ease the pressure on parents, who have had to worry about their children's safety while travelling to and from school, while giving learners more convenient access to education.
Another resident, Edwin Mwangi, said the construction of the school would address a longstanding infrastructure gap in Kirigiti, where residents have faced limited access to primary education facilities despite the area's growing needs.
Speaking during the ceremony, Kiambu Township MP Machua Waithaka said the project was intended to address the challenges faced by families whose children have been travelling outside the neighbourhood to access basic education.
Waithaka said the new facility would provide much-needed relief to parents and make it easier for children to attend school closer to their homes.
“This project will bring much-needed relief to families and bring learning closer to home for our children,” Waithaka said.
He noted that improving access to education was important for families in Kirigiti, where the lack of a nearby primary school has made daily school journeys difficult for young learners.
Waithaka also directed the contractor to prioritise residents of the area when sourcing labour for the construction works, saying local people should have an opportunity to benefit from employment created by the project.
“I have instructed the contractor to prioritise local residents when sourcing labour once construction commences,” he said.
The construction will be undertaken by the State Department for Housing and Urban Planning under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme in Kiambu Constituency.
