West Pokot county government has opened up the first secondary school in Masol ward along Pokot -Turkana border in a move to make education accessible to the residents.
The historic event attracted hundreds of residents who hailed Governor Simon Kachapin for his great passion in improving education in the region.
Masol ward is among marginalized wards in the county along Pokot -Turkana border which had no single higher learning institution with only a handful primary schools scatted in the vast region.
Speaking during an auspicious event to launch the school, area governor Simon Kachapin said the county government has already allocated 7 million shillings to start construction of classrooms.
Sigor CDF kitty has also channeled 2.5 million towards to project as locals call on other partners to support the noble project.
The governor said the move will open up the area to other development project that will benefit the locals.
“My government has lined up several projects to support the school and residents; already we are improving road network to make the school accessible,” said Kachapin.
Kachapin pointed out that the initiative will also improve security along the border as students from both the Pokot and Turkana community will study together.
“This initiative will ensure our people coexist together since our children will study together,” he said.
The Governor said the County government is committed to make education affordable to residents by giving bursaries to students in the region as he revealed that the County has allocated 150 million for the bursary kitty this financial year.
The county chief however said funds for school infrastructure will be managed by county governments to ensure proper management of the funds and improve learning environment at the grassroots.
He revealed that the county government has done well in the management of ECD and polytechnics in the first year of devolution and now have the capacity to manage all education issues.
Kachapin pointed out that the county government is forced to allocate funds for school infrastructure in the budget since the national government has failed in its role and feared that the funds could be embezzled by senior officers in the ministry.
Area member of county assembly Ariong’o Lopurna said the move was historic since the ward has no single school since independence.
The MCA thanked the county government to putting priority to education in the region saying it will help empower the community.
