The sad story of Sangurur Primary School

It is disturbing to see photos of primary school kids battling with the nerve-biting morning cold to quench their academic thirst in classrooms that our ancestors would boycott. In an era that Constituency Development Funds (CDF) is in circulation, such conditions should just prevail in fairies not in real life situation.

Well, the picture of Sangurur Primary in Marakwet West is just a representative of how pot-bellied legislators and high ranking representatives in the national government have prioritized their selfish interests while sacrificing the future of our generations. That the school administration, the board of management and the parents have initiated collective responsibility to offer a conducive learning environment to the kitten-like curious kids is a welcome idea.

Critics will say that I'm politicizing the issue if I bring in and mention area politicians. Let us call a spade a spade. The county's elected leaders, just to mention, are among the few high ranking individuals in Jubilee government. Sadly, Sangurur Primary school lies within Senator Murkomen's area of jurisdiction. To see the senator fly high across the skies of Sangurur, with kids cheering him wildly, is a friendly curse for him. The pupils are, in other words, shouting that he passes by the school to see the pathetic conditions.

I'd wish to distance the county leadership a little from this messy situation. Education is a function of the national government, and here is where the CDF kitty lies. With prudent management of the funds, this school should have had better classrooms that are friendlier to learning. It is a big shame for the area MP William Kipkemoi Kisang to divert the monies under the kitty to other invisible projects that only the gods know. If a learned man like him becomes too blind to see the needs of a younger generation as of this rural school, then I bet he should just consider himself incompetent to seek re-election at the same capacity.

That the school alumni has unanimously resolved to change the face of the school is heartwarming! But sadly, it is unfortunate that anonymous politicians may later blindly wake up slumber to claim credit for the project that is speedily gaining momentum.