President Uhuru To Inject Ksh 1.9 Billion In The School Furniture Project

By Nsunjo Erica

President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the 1.9 billion shilling school furniture project on Thursday. The project will see Jua Kali Artisans supply 650,000 locally assembled desks.

According to President Uhuru Kenyatta, the government plans to pay 3,800 shillings for a secondary school locker and chair.

“Following an extensive market survey, the cost of a primary school desk has been fixed at 2,500 shillings and 3,800 shillings for secondary school locker and chair,” the President said on Thursday.

The Ministry of Education said some 622,357 lockers and chairs would be supplied to 5,136 public primary schools and 5,254 secondary schools before they reopen.

Primary schools will get 360,000 desks that will cost the taxpayer Sh900 million while secondary schools will receive 263,157 lockers and chairs valued at Sh1 billion.

During the launch, President Uhuru added that every selected primary school will receive 70 desks while a secondary school will get 50 lockers and chairs.

The President challenged local artisans to ensure they assemble and supply desks that meet the highest quality standards and advised project beneficiaries to form saving societies to grow their earnings from the project.

CS for Education Prof Magoha directed regional and county education directors to ensure the desks, chairs, and lockers are supplied to schools by October 19.

President Uhuru’s project which is part of the Government’s post-Covid-19 Economic Stimulus Programme is aimed at boosting the jua kali sector, the youth in Kenya.

The President said the project is in relation to the ongoing Kazi Mtaani youth employment initiative, he added that youth should be given an opportunity to earn decent livelihoods.

“After the Kazi Mtaani program, we have said instead of school desks being made by big companies, we give our youth the opportunity to exercise their skills.

President Uhuru directed the ministries of education and interior to ensure that the project benefits artisans across the country so that the youth can also feel empowered and catered for by the government.

“We want to ensure all our youth with skills are engaged to benefit from their sweat. This program is not for Nairobi alone but for all Kenyans who are skilled and are working in the jua kali sector,” he said.

The heads of state have put more effort on to empowering the youth in Kenya, previously, through the National Government, Uhuru purchased 500 hospital beds from two local manufactures to boost capacity in public hospitals currently under pressure from COVID-19 related admissions.

Mungai Gathogo, 26, and Joseph Muhinja, 35 who are based in Githunguri, Kiambu County have a reason to smile after being awarded a contract to deliver 500 hospital beds within a month and a half following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s personal intervention.