Construction of a new primary school in Kirigiti, Kiambu Constituency, has begun in a move expected to bring relief to families who have for years travelled long distances to access basic education for their children.
The project, being undertaken through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) under the office of Kiambu MP Machua Waithaka, officially commenced with the handover of the site to Affordable Galaxy Construction Ltd.
The school is being established through an Affordable Housing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme at the Kirigiti Approved School, with the first phase set to deliver 10 classrooms, an administration block and 18 toilets.
The development is expected to significantly improve access to education for children in Kirigiti while easing pressure on neighbouring primary schools that have been absorbing learners from the area.
Mr Waithaka said Kirigiti had for years remained the only location in the constituency without a primary school, forcing pupils to walk considerable distances to Kiu River Primary School and Kiambu Primary School.
“Kirigiti has remained the only location in the constituency without a primary school,” Mr Waithaka said, noting that some children have been walking about two kilometres to Kiu River Primary School and a similar distance to Kiambu Primary School.
He said the new institution would bring education closer to families while helping decongest the two neighbouring schools.
The MP said the project was also a fulfilment of a commitment he made to residents during his campaign tours, when parents and community members raised the lack of a primary school as one of their major concerns.
The beginning of construction therefore marks a significant step in translating the concerns raised by residents into a tangible development project.
Beyond the construction of classrooms, the project is expected to address some of the challenges associated with overcrowding in existing schools, where increased enrolment has continued to put pressure on available classrooms, sanitation facilities and other learning infrastructure.
The planned 18 toilets are expected to strengthen sanitation facilities at the new institution, while the administration block will provide space for the management of the school and support the effective running of the institution.
Mr Waithaka said the project was part of efforts to improve access to essential public services and respond to the needs identified by residents at the grassroots.
The site handover also signals the transition from planning to implementation, with the contractor expected to commence construction works as the project takes shape.
For parents in Kirigiti, the development could mean shorter journeys for their children and reduced transport and related costs associated with seeking education outside the neighbourhood.
The establishment of the school is also likely to reshape enrolment patterns in the area, with pupils who would otherwise have joined Kiu River or Kiambu primary schools expected to have an institution closer to their homes.
The project comes amid growing calls for investment in education infrastructure as communities expand and existing public schools struggle to accommodate rising numbers of learners.
For Kirigiti residents, however, the project carries an additional significance it represents the fulfilment of a long standing demand for a primary school within the locality.
Mr Waithaka said the concerns raised by residents during his campaign had remained central to his development agenda.
“What we promised the people of Kirigiti is now taking shape on the ground,” he said.
Once completed, the first phase is expected to provide the basic infrastructure required to establish the school and create a more accessible learning environment for children in the area.
The project is therefore being viewed not only as an infrastructure investment but also as an intervention aimed at improving equity in access to basic education within Kiambu Constituency.
With construction now under way, attention will shift to the timely completion and quality of the facilities so that children from Kirigiti can begin accessing education closer to home.
