Gachagua brings goodies to his former school

UDA leaders join the DP Rigathi Gachagua in a jig when he graced the Kianyaga Old Boys Alumni on Saturday. He is also an old boy  of the institution

Deputy  President Rigathi Gachagua has embarked  on massive transformation of his former school in an effort to wake  up the  fallen academic  giant in Kirinyaga County .

Gachagua who  was enlisted as a Form One  at Kianyaga  Boys High school in 1978  and cleared his Advanced Level of Education at the same  institution in 1983 owed his standing in the society  to his then school headmaster  Mr Julius  Ndumbi.

The DP who visited  the institution on Saturday courtesy of the  school Alumni  said he had come  to realise why his former teacher  was very harsh and a strict disciplinarian to the students .

“Had Ndumbi spared the cane , I can assure  you I would not be the Deputy President of this Republic and I lack words  to sincerely thank him for having accorded   me an opportunity  to study  at  this  once famous school,”he told a mammoth gathering .

And  to prove he meant what he said Gachagua promised to ensure all the asbestos roofing in most of the school buildings  were removed as  from tomorrow since they have been declared a health hazard.

Accompanied by a contingent of the old boys some of whom are University Dons ,  and other  high profile professionals, announced the school will have an ultra-modern swimming pool with international standards soon.

He said all the architectural works, materials  survey and all related specialized skills for the project will be undertaken for  free   by the Old Boys .

And due to the high  student population(1700 plus) which has constrained the dining hall built in the 70’s to accommodate   a maximum of 400 students , a  state of the arts one will be built  soonest under the same conditions like the swimming pool.

“The beauty of  Kalahari (  nickname of the school ) is that amongst us the old boys we have professionals of all kinds  , Doctors ,Engineers,  Lawyers , Professors   , Journalists and name it hence the  two  mega projects we have  earmarked will be constructed at a minimal cost as we give back to our dear school,”he said.

As if that was not enough, Gachagua has promised to deliver to the school personally a  62 seater Scania bus to  replace an old one which has  reached   its sell by date .

It was only last week the Ministry of water sunk a bore hole which he commissioned on Saturday and which brought the perennial water shortage to an end .

“Since the output of this bore hole is much more than the school requires am urging the school BOM to ensure the surrounding community   benefitted from the excessive water.

The old boys said they were ready and willing to do whatever it takes to restore the lost glory of the school.

During the 70s, 80s and 90s the school topped in the county and was competing favorably with giants like Alliance, Mangu ,Nyeri High , Kagumo and name it but from md 90s , things started falling  apart .

Education CS Hezekiah Machogu who was present brought a government donation of Sh 100 million to be used in the removal and replacement of the asbestos  sheets .and 50 pieces of computers for the students .

The school administration said a total of sh 600 million was rewired to refurbish  the old buildings and putting up new classrooms , a modern  library and other  amenities .

Gichugu MP Gichimu Githinji ,his Kirinyaga Central and  Mwea counterparts Gachoki Gitari and Mary Maingi and  the County Woman  MP Njeri Maina were present at the high profile occasion.