A terrible paradox can be found in the center of Tharaka Nithi County, the home and political stronghold of Deputy president Kithure Kindiki: schools in disrepair, students learning beneath trees, and promises of progress that are collecting dust like the ripped textbooks in their hands.
Across several villages in this rugged region, children are forced to sit on stones or the bare ground, exposed to harsh weather conditions. At Karuguni Primary School, one of the most affected institutions, cracked walls and gaping roofs stand as symbols of government abandonment. The dilapidated classrooms, most of which are unsafe for learning, have pushed teachers to conduct lessons in open spaces. During the rainy season, learning halts altogether.
For a county that birthed a top-ranking national leader, residents express disappointment at the slow pace of development, particularly in education. “We see him on TV making big speeches about national security, yet right here, our children are insecure in collapsing classrooms,” laments a local parent. Teachers, too, are demoralized, citing lack of resources, understaffing, and poor infrastructure as daily hurdles.
Despite promises from local leaders during past campaigns, including pledges to improve school facilities, provide desks, and build new classrooms, little has changed. Several stalled projects dot the landscape, haunting reminders of political pledges that turned into empty words.
Community members now question whether being “Kindiki’s backyard” is a blessing or a burden. With the region’s potential still untapped, many believe that urgent intervention is needed to restore dignity to education in Tharaka Nithi.
As the national government continues to tout its commitment to inclusive development, the plight of these forgotten pupils paints a different picture, one of disparity, broken trust, and a deep yearning for genuine change.
