By Alex Maina
St. Patrick’s Primary School in Kiplombe Ward, Uasin Gishu County, is in a very bad state. This school used to be one of the best in the area. Many people studied here and became successful. But now, things have changed, and not for the better.
The classroom floors are full of holes. It is hard to clean them, and dust fills the air. The windows are broken, and only the frames remain. When it rains, water splashes into the classrooms. Books get wet, and children sit in cold, wet clothes. Preps in the morning or evening are almost impossible because of the cold and wind.
The toilets are blocked and dirty. The smell is bad. Some children don’t even use them they wait until they go home. This is not healthy and not safe for them.
Parents are very worried. Mr. Kiptoo, one of the parents, says, “I had to transfer my daughter to another school. I didn’t want to, but this school is not safe anymore.”
Jane Chebet, another parent, says, “I studied at this school. It was clean and neat back then. Now, I’m thinking of moving my child to a different school. The classrooms are dirty, and the rain makes things worse.”
Mama Mercy adds, “Our children sit in wet classes when it rains. Their shoes are soaked, their books are damaged. How can they learn like this? We need help.”
This school supports many families in our area. It helps parents who cannot afford expensive private schools. That is why the County Government and the office of the Member of Parliament for Turbo, Madam Janet Rotich, must act quickly.
We are not asking for too much. We are only asking for clean, safe classrooms. We are asking for working toilets. We are asking for protection from rain and cold.
Our children are the future. They cannot learn well in such poor conditions. St. Patrick’s can be great again. But it needs repair, it needs attention, and it needs action.
We call on our leaders to visit this school, to see the truth, and to fix it. Not next year. Not next month. But now.
Our children deserve better. Let us give them a school they can be proud of.
