The Mukuru Junior Secondary School Project
Preamble
The year 2022 marked an important moment for Mukuru school. The combined effort of teachers and students gained the attention of the Ministry of Education for their unexpectedly high academic results. Enoch, the Head Master, told us that most of our children had excelled in achieving the qualifying results in their primary school exams to be able to join the best national secondary schools. However, those schools are prohibitively far away, typically hundreds of miles from Nairobi. At that point Enoch had the vision to build a secondary school in Mukuru.
"Academically we've reinvented ourself as an academic powerhouse. It's only that we lack space and modern facilities to deliver for our children." Enock
"Academically we've reinvented ourself as an academic powerhouse. It's only that we lack space and modern facilities to deliver for our children." Enock
Our current project
Shirikiana has raised the funds over the last two years to enable the construction of a new one-storey SECONDARY SCHOOL building. We broke ground at the school site in Mukuru in 2023. The building comprises a library, a science laboratory, a computer room, a small administration office and three new classrooms. This is being done in three phases and is nearing completion.
Timeline
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In February 2023 a property comprising four rooms adjacent to the current primary school was purchased.
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In April 2023 the sewage system was repaired; the pit latrines were drained as they were full and represented a health hazard.
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Replacement of a leaking classroom roof.
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In June 2023 we purchased drainage and plumbing materials and the waste was removed from the pit latrines.
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Renovation of classroom floor.
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In November 2023 The foundations for the new secondary school building were laid.
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In December 2023 the construction of the secondary school building is in full flow.
Delivery of materials: gravel, cement, timber, stone, breeze blocks, metal wire, etc arrives to the main road and then needs to be carried by hand or wheelbarrow through a narrow alleyway to the point of construction. |
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‘Junior Secondary Schools’ is a new government initiative that is being introduced in all suitable primary schools within the Competence Based System of Education (CBC) currently being rolled out in Kenya.
With the Mukuru Academy gaining a reputation for achieving excellent academic results, many students travel into Mukuru from outlying areas in order to benefit from the high standard of education that it can offer. In this way, the academy is able to help them to achieve the goals and objectives necessary to qualify for further education in an existing state run secondary school.
However, because of prohibitive travel and financial constraints, many pupils are not able to access secondary education in other localities. This means that they become unable to continue with their education with all the serious social vulnerabilities that this can entail.
The proposed project will enable the Mukuru Academy to meet all the necessary government requirements to apply for Junior Secondary School Status and thus make it possible for all the children within the community to have access to a comprehensive education path - and all the opportunities that this path can offer.
The project will comprise of a new one-storey building that will house a library, a science laboratory, a computer room and a small administration office, together with the accommodation of the three new classes of secondary pupils.
The permanent one-storey structure will also guarantee the safety and security of the equipment needed for the science and computer classrooms, as well as for all the new textbooks and other teaching materials required by the secondary level curriculum.
The Academy currently has a class of 45 grade 6 pupils who - if the project is successful - will proceed to the new Junior Secondary forms 7, 8 and 9 after sitting for their national KEPSEA exams (Kenya Primary School Examination Assessment).
However, the true number is expected to be far higher. This is due to the fact that many pupils from the previous academic year (2022), who have already excelled in their national exams, having been unable to continue to secondary schools in other locations, are keen to return to the Mukuru Outreach Academy to continue their studies.
This has been confirmed by both the pupils and their parents.
The project will be a dream come true for both the school and the community and will be a significant step forward for the school’s vision of providing both high quality affordable education for the children, and much needed hope for the population of Mukuru.
Not least, the Junior Secondary School Project will represent the celebration of 15 years of commitment, faith and dedicated hard work on the part of everyone involved in Mukuru Outreach Kenya.
With the Mukuru Academy gaining a reputation for achieving excellent academic results, many students travel into Mukuru from outlying areas in order to benefit from the high standard of education that it can offer. In this way, the academy is able to help them to achieve the goals and objectives necessary to qualify for further education in an existing state run secondary school.
However, because of prohibitive travel and financial constraints, many pupils are not able to access secondary education in other localities. This means that they become unable to continue with their education with all the serious social vulnerabilities that this can entail.
The proposed project will enable the Mukuru Academy to meet all the necessary government requirements to apply for Junior Secondary School Status and thus make it possible for all the children within the community to have access to a comprehensive education path - and all the opportunities that this path can offer.
The project will comprise of a new one-storey building that will house a library, a science laboratory, a computer room and a small administration office, together with the accommodation of the three new classes of secondary pupils.
The permanent one-storey structure will also guarantee the safety and security of the equipment needed for the science and computer classrooms, as well as for all the new textbooks and other teaching materials required by the secondary level curriculum.
The Academy currently has a class of 45 grade 6 pupils who - if the project is successful - will proceed to the new Junior Secondary forms 7, 8 and 9 after sitting for their national KEPSEA exams (Kenya Primary School Examination Assessment).
However, the true number is expected to be far higher. This is due to the fact that many pupils from the previous academic year (2022), who have already excelled in their national exams, having been unable to continue to secondary schools in other locations, are keen to return to the Mukuru Outreach Academy to continue their studies.
This has been confirmed by both the pupils and their parents.
The project will be a dream come true for both the school and the community and will be a significant step forward for the school’s vision of providing both high quality affordable education for the children, and much needed hope for the population of Mukuru.
Not least, the Junior Secondary School Project will represent the celebration of 15 years of commitment, faith and dedicated hard work on the part of everyone involved in Mukuru Outreach Kenya.
Projected Costs & Deadline - Junior Secondary School
Total budget (a complete cost breakdown is available, please contact us) £12,600 or 2,277,030 Ksh
Application deadline for Secondary School Status 30th September 2023
Application deadline for Secondary School Status 30th September 2023
Shirikiana CIO Annual Report
Year Three
6th April 2024 – 5th April 2025
After the completion of the basic building of the Mukuru Secondary School at the end of Year Three, Year Three began with the final two phases of the project. These final phases required further funding from Shirikiana due to the increase in costs for building materials and labour.
Firstly, the roof was completed to protect the building against heavy rains, thus allowing for the plastering of the ground floor and the fitting of doors and windows. (During this time, the lower school was still able to function as normal).
By the middle of August 2024, the ground floor was completed together with the roof and its water tanks. This represented the completion of Phase Two.
Work started on the upper floor (Phase Three) in late August, but on the 15th September tragedy struck when a fire began in the adjacent lower school. Because of the proximity of all the nearby buildings, the fire spread rapidly and sadly four adults and one child lost their lives. However, not a moment was wasted on discouragement and regret, and within a couple of days the fire had been put out and building work resumed on the secondary school, as well as repair work to the fire damaged buildings.
By late December the building was completed together with a kitchen area and all the necessary painting and decoration. This enabled the focus to be applied to the building of new, and much needed, ‘pit latrines’ for the whole school.
Dear Shirikiana Members and friends
It's a great honour writing to you at this critical moment when we're almost completing the construction of permanent [secondary school] classrooms for our children. We've also embarked on the construction of toilets, fully connected to the drainage. The two projects are a sigh of relief to the school and the community.
I thought of writing to you more specifically because of the commencement of the toilet project. It might take a while because of limited resources, but ultimately, we believe we'll be there.
We're optimistic that the Lord who saw the need for this invaluable friendship will always lead and direct us where and when possible. One biblical scenario captures my mind on this, the leading of the children of Israel out of the land of bondage, through difficult times in the desert and the Red Sea and ultimately making it safe and sound to the promised land. It's such a tremendous love and happiness that we'll experience once we conclude these projects and other forthcoming projects by the grace.
The toilet issue remains close to my heart. We've experienced a lot of challenges and humiliation from our visitors with the pit latrines. The smell was unbearable. They used to be full quarterly and consume a lot of money exhausting them. One visitor from the neighbouring company was so forthright in his criticism of the sorry state of the toilets mid last year.
"Why aren't you doing something about these toilets? Are you happy with the way they're smelling? Why is the management sleeping on its job?"
We couldn't remark a word. We knew at the back of our minds that it wasn't our fault. We did not have the capacity resource-wise to affect any meaningful development let alone the toilet matter. It was so baffling and heartbreaking at the same time.
With the disposable toilets, it has been cumbersome to manage. Spending around ksh.10,000 a month hasn't been a walk in the park. Such an exorbitant fee for our young school has been purely draining.
Because of the toilet problem in the community, many people from around sometimes visit the school to relieve themselves because of lack of ksh.5 payable for one go. You can imagine how much is spent on toilets alone for a family of 5 to 10 people. These are people who live in less than a dollar a day.
Some people wait for the wee hours of night and early in the mornings to relieve themselves along the railway line. How sad and embarrassing?
I know once these toilets are completed and ready to use, they'll save face for the school and the community.
God bless you brothers and sisters
Enock Nyananga – Headmaster
After a much-needed school holiday at the beginning of April 2025, the Secondary School, and the new toilets, opened on the 28th April with a celebratory party. Thus, our Mukuru Academy Secondary School Project reached its very satisfactory conclusion.
Firstly, the roof was completed to protect the building against heavy rains, thus allowing for the plastering of the ground floor and the fitting of doors and windows. (During this time, the lower school was still able to function as normal).
By the middle of August 2024, the ground floor was completed together with the roof and its water tanks. This represented the completion of Phase Two.
Work started on the upper floor (Phase Three) in late August, but on the 15th September tragedy struck when a fire began in the adjacent lower school. Because of the proximity of all the nearby buildings, the fire spread rapidly and sadly four adults and one child lost their lives. However, not a moment was wasted on discouragement and regret, and within a couple of days the fire had been put out and building work resumed on the secondary school, as well as repair work to the fire damaged buildings.
By late December the building was completed together with a kitchen area and all the necessary painting and decoration. This enabled the focus to be applied to the building of new, and much needed, ‘pit latrines’ for the whole school.
Dear Shirikiana Members and friends
It's a great honour writing to you at this critical moment when we're almost completing the construction of permanent [secondary school] classrooms for our children. We've also embarked on the construction of toilets, fully connected to the drainage. The two projects are a sigh of relief to the school and the community.
I thought of writing to you more specifically because of the commencement of the toilet project. It might take a while because of limited resources, but ultimately, we believe we'll be there.
We're optimistic that the Lord who saw the need for this invaluable friendship will always lead and direct us where and when possible. One biblical scenario captures my mind on this, the leading of the children of Israel out of the land of bondage, through difficult times in the desert and the Red Sea and ultimately making it safe and sound to the promised land. It's such a tremendous love and happiness that we'll experience once we conclude these projects and other forthcoming projects by the grace.
The toilet issue remains close to my heart. We've experienced a lot of challenges and humiliation from our visitors with the pit latrines. The smell was unbearable. They used to be full quarterly and consume a lot of money exhausting them. One visitor from the neighbouring company was so forthright in his criticism of the sorry state of the toilets mid last year.
"Why aren't you doing something about these toilets? Are you happy with the way they're smelling? Why is the management sleeping on its job?"
We couldn't remark a word. We knew at the back of our minds that it wasn't our fault. We did not have the capacity resource-wise to affect any meaningful development let alone the toilet matter. It was so baffling and heartbreaking at the same time.
With the disposable toilets, it has been cumbersome to manage. Spending around ksh.10,000 a month hasn't been a walk in the park. Such an exorbitant fee for our young school has been purely draining.
Because of the toilet problem in the community, many people from around sometimes visit the school to relieve themselves because of lack of ksh.5 payable for one go. You can imagine how much is spent on toilets alone for a family of 5 to 10 people. These are people who live in less than a dollar a day.
Some people wait for the wee hours of night and early in the mornings to relieve themselves along the railway line. How sad and embarrassing?
I know once these toilets are completed and ready to use, they'll save face for the school and the community.
God bless you brothers and sisters
Enock Nyananga – Headmaster
After a much-needed school holiday at the beginning of April 2025, the Secondary School, and the new toilets, opened on the 28th April with a celebratory party. Thus, our Mukuru Academy Secondary School Project reached its very satisfactory conclusion.
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The Shirikiana Vision
Shirikiana is a UK based non-profit organization dedicated to bringing educational opportunity and outreach to communities in the developing world that lack access or resources to schools, higher education qualifications and knowledge opportunities. |
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