More than 170 schools in Kiharu constituency have received rice donations to provide lunch for candidates sitting national examinations.
The move will ease the financial burden on parents during the examination period.
A total of 171 public and private primary and senior schools benefited from the donation by philanthropist Karanja Mburu Wamatangi through his foundation.
Wamatangi said the initiative aims to ensure candidates remained focused on their examinations without worrying about food, particularly as some families struggled to meet the additional cost of providing daily meals.
“We have donated rice to all schools in this constituency to ensure candidates have lunch during the period they sit their national examinations,” he said on Tuesday while overseeing the distribution exercise in the Ndikwe area.
He said the rice was allocated according to the number of candidates in each institution. He added that the foundation had sustained the programme for the past 10 years as part of its efforts to support education.
Some senior schools have already commenced the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, while the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) are scheduled to begin on October 26.
Wamatangi called on examination officials and security agencies to ensure the national tests were conducted fairly.
He warned against attempts to compromise their credibility through examination malpractice or leakage.
He urged county commissioners, centre managers, supervisors and invigilators to remain vigilant throughout the examination period, noting that candidates deserved a fair assessment of their abilities.
“We want our children to sit fair examinations and receive marks that reflect their performance. The government must ensure proper supervision and prevent leakage. We are watching how the examination process will be handled,” he said.
The philanthropist also questioned the fairness of the placement of learners transitioning to senior school, calling on the government to ensure all institutions had adequate facilities to accommodate students.
He dismissed claims that concerns over placements in other counties amounted to tribalism, arguing that learners should be admitted to schools that could adequately support their education.
Wamatangi expressed concern over cases in which learners were reportedly assigned to day schools far from their homes, including institutions in other counties.
He warned that such placements could expose families to additional transport costs and inconvenience.
He said the government had a responsibility to ensure schools across the country were adequately equipped so that learners could access quality education regardless of their location.
“The government must ensure all schools have the necessary facilities so that every child can access a fair education. Our concern is that learners should be placed in institutions that can provide the facilities they need to learn,” he said.
Wamatangi further urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children during the upcoming long school holiday, warning that inadequate supervision could expose them to risky behaviour.
He singled out teenage pregnancies as a concern in Murang’a county, calling for stronger parental guidance and cooperation between families, schools and community leaders to protect children during the break.
He urged parents to remain involved in their children's lives, know their whereabouts and offer guidance to help them make responsible decisions before schools reopen for the next academic term.
