UDA MP comes under fire over his opposition to school renovation
Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji has come under fire from leaders and the community in Njukiri Village, Embu, for allegedly opposing the rehabilitation of the dilapidated DEB Njukiri Primary School by a local entrepreneur.
Ken Java Mwaniki, through his construction firm, Eagle 1 Concrete and Machineries Ltd, has volunteered to renovate the public primary school with cutting-edge amenities and transform it into a model school as part of Corporate Social Responsibility.
The school’s enrollment has dropped from nearly 400 students two decades ago to 47 students now due to inadequate facilities and low performance, which has forced parents to move their children to other schools.
Renovation work was supposed to start last month, but it hit a stumbling block after the local MP allegedly thwarted the plan by ensuring the facilitator did not receive clearance and approval from key authorities.
The development provoked outrage among the community and other stakeholders, who accused the MP of being anti-development.
In a show of togetherness, the community lead by the benefactor convened a public participation session on Wednesday and unanimously approved the plan.
The entrepreneur’s school alumni have also agreed to write a petition, which will be signed by residents and handed to the MP in order to compel him to enable the proposed project to proceed.
“Power belongs to the people and we vehemently oppose any bid to block the renovation of our school by the MP,” said area leader Roy Mutembei.
Educationist Selasius Njoka said it was a great tragedy for any politician to stand in the way of such an endeavour that has the potential to impact the lives of countless youngsters.
“Leadership is about mentoring other people, if you cannot come here and encourage well-wishers to build a school which will grow future leaders, and then you are acting like a mafia,” said educationist Selasius Njoka.
He continued, “What we have witnessed here in terms of corporate social responsibility is what we want to see happen across Embu County and the country at large.”
Another local leader, Wambugu Gakinya, urged others to respond to the President’s appeal for corporations to help enhance the communities in which they operate, while setting the groundwork for the M-pesa Foundation’s renovation of his former Kamagut Primary School.
Faith Gakii, a parent at the school, stated that anyone who opposed the project was an enemy of the people since leadership is about transforming lives, and that they wanted to see the school’s previous grandeur returned.
The citizens also pledged to press ahead with the idea if the MP ignored their plea.
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UDA MP comes under fire over his opposition to school renovation
