Lurambi MP Titus Khamala has blamed his predecessors for what he called white elephant projects.
Speaking while launching the refurbishment of six schools using the CDF Kitty at Mahiakalo primary school, the MP said many projects were started by his predecessors but abandoned midway.
“We have classrooms in some of our schools that were started by former MPs dating back 14 years. They still stand incomplete! This is unacceptable. Public funds should never end up in personal pockets at all.” He said.
His predecessors include the late labor minister Newton Kulundu who was MP from 1997 to 2007, Atanans Manyala Keya 2007 to 2013 and Otaalo Raphael from 2013 to 2017.
The six schools will share at least shs 84 million which will be used to build modern classrooms.
The schools will have modern storey buildings that will house 8 classrooms in one school from each of the six wards within Lurambi constituency.
Area public health officials have condemned the current classrooms and said they are “unsuitable for learning purposes,”
The first bunch of schools that will benefit from the project include Ebuchinga Primary school in Butsotso central ward, Matende primary school in Shirere ward, Marava primary school in Shieywe ward, Emusala primary school in Butsotso East ward, Eshiandukusi primary school in Butsotso South and Mahiakalo primary school in Mahiakalo Ward.
Each school will get at least sh. 14.7 Million.
“Construction work at the sites in some of the selected schools has already started whereas others start immediately so that come April this year, the pupils will start using the new classes so that learning is not disrupted. We want to ensure that when the long rains start, the pupils will be safe while in school,” the MP said.
The MP warned sluggish contractors that they risk being kicked out.
Khamala said all elected MPs from Kakamega County have an MoU with Governor Wycliffe Oparanya to put up model boys and girls schools in each constituency to cater for the high number of students.
“The County Government will give 50 per cent of the money and the rest from the CDF kitty. The model schools will have 10 streams per class in order to achieve the 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary school,” he said.