Uniform-making project set up in Cherangany

Cherangany MP Wesley Korir admires some uniforms made by Kaplamai Polytechnic in Trans Nzoia County during the launch of a school uniform project for the constituency. PHOTO: KEVIN TUNOI

TRANS NZOIA: The cost of uniforms for school-going children in Cherangany constituency is set to reduce by up to 50 per cent.

This is thanks to a Sh4.5 million uniform-making project, which was launched in October last year.

1,200 pairs of school uniform have been produced in the pilot phase at St Joseph’s Vocational Training Institute Kaplamai, where the project is conducted.

Area MP Wesley Korir, the brainchild of the social entrepreneurship project, sought funds from well-wishers in order to lower school expenses and create employment for young people with technical skills.

“We want to make this project sustainable and benefit the community through reducing the high cost of school uniforms for parents and employing our young people with skills in dressmaking. So far, we have employed 20 people and want to get 80 more to boost the production rate to meet the demand,” he said during the project’s launch in Kaplamai.

He said the high cost of living had made it difficult for parents to raise school fees and buy enough uniform for their children and felt that producing uniform at a lower cost would make their load lighter.

“The average market price for a set of uniform is Sh4,500 but we will be selling the same at Sh2,800. Every parent that will buy uniform here will get an extra set that will be catered for by the Constituency Development Fund,” he said.

Already, the project is making uniforms and reusable sanitary pads for 12 schools in the constituency with a target to become the sole supplier for the constituency by making over 20,000 sets of uniform annually.

HIGH DEMAND

“We want over 80 per cent of our children to have school uniforms by the end of next year. The profits will be used to set up a kitty for needy students that will cater for 300 children annually,” he said.

He reiterated the need for the Government to formulate policies that will ensure all organisations have a well-defined plan to develop the communities within which they operate.

Caroline Adhiambo, the project co-ordinator, said there is high demand for the uniforms because of the high quality and the affordable prices. She said the constituency would also train a youth from every village in dressmaking to supplement the labour required to meet the orders.

“We make skirts, trousers, t-shirts and sweaters,” Ms Adhiambo said.