Learners at Garissa School for the Deaf are set to benefit from expanded classroom space, improved sanitation and access to digital learning following the launch of a Sh12.7 million infrastructure project aimed at strengthening inclusive education.
The project, spearheaded by Airtel Money Kenya through the Airtel Africa Foundation in partnership with ChildFund Kenya, will address infrastructure gaps at the institution while creating a more supportive learning environment for children with hearing disabilities.
The investment, implemented under the Building Brighter Futures initiative, will finance the construction of four classrooms, an information and communication technology (ICT) centre, and modern water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.
The expansion comes amid efforts to improve access to quality education for learners with disabilities, many of whom face additional barriers arising from inadequate infrastructure and limited access to appropriate learning resources.
The planned ICT centre is expected to widen learners’ exposure to digital technology, equip them with relevant skills and open up opportunities to participate in an increasingly technology driven society.
Under the project, the school will also receive separate ablution blocks with toilet and bathroom facilities for boys and girls, alongside a two door sanitation facility for teachers.
Water access will be enhanced through an extension of the existing pipeline and installation of an elevated tower fitted with a 20,000 litre storage tank.
A 20 point handwashing station will also be installed to encourage proper hygiene practices and improve sanitation within the school compound.
The interventions are expected to ease pressure on existing facilities while promoting the health, dignity and well being of learners and staff.
Airtel Money Kenya Acting Managing Director Bonke Michael said the investment was intended to deliver more than physical infrastructure, emphasising the importance of creating an environment in which children with disabilities could learn and develop their abilities.
“Our commitment with this project goes beyond infrastructure; it is about creating a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and pursue their dreams,” he said.
Michael said every child deserved access to quality education and the resources required to realise their full potential.
The Garissa intervention forms part of the Sh62 million Building Brighter Futures initiative, which targets more than 2,000 learners in four public schools across Baringo, Garissa and Wajir counties.
The programme began in Baringo County, where Sh37 million was committed to upgrading learning and water, sanitation and hygiene facilities at Marigat Integrated Day and Boarding Primary School and Marigat Special School for the Visually Impaired.
The wider initiative seeks to address infrastructure challenges in public schools while improving learning conditions for children with different educational needs, particularly those living with disabilities.
In Garissa, the investment is expected to complement efforts by education officials to ensure that school facilities support effective curriculum delivery and enable learners to participate more fully in classroom activities.
Fatuma Omar, a Curriculum Support Officer for Special Needs Education in Garissa County, said suitable learning facilities were essential to achieving educational outcomes and ensuring that learners were not disadvantaged by their physical environment.
“This is about creating opportunities, promoting inclusion and investing in the future of our learners,” she said.
Omar said a conducive learning environment was critical to effective curriculum implementation and helping every learner achieve their potential.
The project highlights the role of partnerships between the private sector, charitable organisations and education stakeholders in addressing gaps in public school infrastructure.
For learners at Garissa School for the Deaf, the combination of additional classrooms, improved sanitation and digital learning facilities is expected to strengthen the conditions under which they study and develop essential life skills.
Beyond the immediate infrastructure improvements, the initiative reflects a broader push to make education more accessible and responsive to the needs of children with disabilities.
By investing in facilities tailored to learners’ needs, Airtel Money Kenya, through the Airtel Africa Foundation, and ChildFund Kenya aim to support safer and more inclusive schools where children can acquire knowledge, build confidence and prepare for future opportunities.
The success of such interventions will ultimately depend on the sustained maintenance of the facilities and their effective integration into daily teaching and learning.
The Garissa project adds to ongoing efforts to bridge infrastructure disparities in public education and reinforce the principle that disability should not prevent children from accessing quality learning opportunities.
