Lost in jurisdiction: School misses out on CDF funds over boundary dispute

Pupils at Nyandarua Boarding primary school a parade where parents also attended to file a petition. [James Munyeki] A long-standing boundary dispute between Nyandarua and Laikipia Counties has left Nyandarua Boarding Primary School in limbo, preventing it from receiving funding from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF). The school, one of the oldest in the region, sits at the intersection of Laikipia West and Ol-jororok constituencies. Due to uncertainty over its exact jurisdiction, it has been locked out of NG-CDF allocations for years, leaving students and teachers struggling with inadequate resources. Established in 1988 as a community school, Nyandarua Boarding Primary is a rare public mixed boarding institution that has produced notable alumni nationwide. However, its future remains uncertain as the unresolved dispute hinders critical development projects. Physically, the school is located in Nyahururu Sub County, Laikipia West constituency, within Laikipia County. However, administratively, it falls under Nyandarua West Sub County, Ol-jororok constituency, in Nyandarua County. This dual classification has led to a standoff, with neither constituency taking responsibility for its funding. Despite appeals from parents and school management, no resolution has been reached, leaving learners to bear the brunt of the impasse. Since the NG-CDF was established in 2003 under President Mwai Kibaki's administration, the school has never received any funding. The fund was created to promote equitable development by allocating government resources directly to constituencies for local projects, especially in education, health, and infrastructure. According to the school's head teacher, Charles Mburu, this ongoing dispute has hindered the institution's infrastructural development. "We have not been receiving CDF funds or projects because neither office has a clear understanding of our institution's status. This has also affected many needy students who apply for CDF bursaries but never receive a response, let alone any disbursement," Mburu said. "We follow the administrative boundaries, and we cannot act beyond our jurisdiction, so we simply adhere to the existing regulations," said Bernard Odino, the Nyahururu Deputy County Commissioner. The boundary issue has not only impacted Nyandarua Boarding Primary School but also nearby Nyahururu High School. According to Philip Wambua, the Nyandarua County Director of Education, funding should ideally come from the Ol-jororok Constituency. "The responsibility for funding lies entirely with the current Member of Parliament and the CDF office, and it may vary on a case-by-case basis," said Wambua. With no option for government support, the school has resorted to fundraising from parents and relying on the Alumni Association, which has been instrumental in its development since its inception in 2011 by former students who completed their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in 1999. Under the leadership of Chair Jacob Nyakiamo Mugeni, the Alumni Association has managed to fund numerous projects, including the tiling of classrooms, launching a bursary fund, purchasing a generator, photocopier and printer, computers, a 65-inch digital television, e-books, a fiber internet connection, books, and sports equipment, along with an annual tree planting initiative. "In addition to tangible projects, we have organized mentorship boot camps and career fairs. If only the Ministry of Education would resolve the school location issue, our institution could progress significantly," asserted Nyakiamo. In 2024, the alumni association launched the first phase of a Sh100 million digital library project, aimed at enhancing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) by equipping learners and teachers with technological skills. "The reason we reach out to alumni for development projects is that we have been left without support despite numerous appeals and delegations to concerned offices. The pleas of this school have fallen on deaf ears," the head teacher said. According to Jacob Mugeni, the alumni association, which has over 2,000 active members, meets annually to brainstorm various ways to support the school. While the alumni's efforts remain crucial, the involvement of government agencies, as well as Laikipia West MP Stephen Karani Wachira and his Ol-jororok counterpart Michael Muchira Mwangi, is essential for the betterment of the institution.

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