About 1,000 students from around the country have flocked day secondary schools in Kiharu constituency in Murang’a to benefit from the subsidised fees.

Under the Kiharu Masomo Bora programme started in 2023, parents pay slightly over Sh1,000 per term.

Learners also benefit from a feeding programme that provides them with a meal of githeri for three days a week while rice is served for the other three days, including Saturdays, and chapatis every last Friday of the month.

The programme started with the aim of motivating day school students to perform better and to lessen the burden for struggling parents.

It has attracted attention countrywide, prompting parents from other areas with relatives in the constituencies to transfer their children.

“The report we have received from the county director of education is that we have over 1,000 students from other areas who have joined our schools. Teachers should allow them to study because we don’t care where their parents live or cast their votes,” MP Ndindi Nyoro said.

Speaking on Friday during the annual relaunch of the programme, the MP said the schools that have attracted the highest number of foreign learners include Weithaga with 123, Kahithe with 117, Gitweku 70, Gitaru 53, Kaganda 78 and Kahuro 43.

Others are Kianderi with 56, Mukumu 33, Gathinja 73, Dr Kirieri 56, Gitige 24, Gatara 21, Mugoiri 20, Kaboi 16, Mirichu 15, Koimbi 14, and Kahuhia 29 among others.

The MP said the programme will continue subsidising day secondary education in the constituency to Sh1,000, despite changes brought about by the Competence Based Curriculum that have impacted schools heavily.

Secondary schools will no longer be absorbing Form 1 learners as the pioneer class of CBC joins Grade 9, leaving them with less students and a high expenditure that will be transferred to parents.

Nyoro cited the example of Mugoiri Mixed Secondary School that had 88 KCSE candidates last year but will have its expenses remain static despite not having a Form 1 class.

“This school had two cooks and will continue with them, despite the lessened population. Other costs such as electricity will remain the same but in Kiharu, parents will continue paying Sh1,000 and we will bear the extra costs,” Nyoro said.

All 112 public primary schools have been renovated. Cabros installation is also ongoing and will benefit all day primary and secondary schools that are also provided with revision books.

“Since the cabros installation is almost complete, we will embark on construction of libraries, laboratories and computer labs in the schools with the aim of deepening their knowledge and studies,” the MP said.

Nyoro pledged to provide Sh450,000 to each of the two subcounties in the constituency to facilitate prize-giving ceremonies and encourage competition.

He also said all 65 day secondary schools will be provided with Sh50,000 each to facilitate extra-curricular activities such as sports and drama festivals.

Nyoro reiterated that he was prompted to improve public learning facilities after a visit to Cape Town in South Africa where he saw a highly maintained secondary school.

When he flew back, he summoned his constituency staffers and strategised on how such improvements would be effected.

With limited funds, the MP settled on implementing projects through a labour-based model where schools are provided with funds and are assisted in acquiring local construction workers as opposed to issuing tenders, cutting costs by about 40 per cent.

The success of Masomo Bora programme has seen political leaders from other parts of the country stream into Kiharu to learn how it works, with the hopes of implementing similar initiatives in their areas.