Francis Wambugu Irungu Parents of pupils at Kutus Primary School in Kirinyaga County have staged demonstrations to protest the deteriorating state of the school’s sanitation facilities, describing the latrines as a serious threat to the health and safety of their children.
The latrines, which reportedly have dangerously wide pit openings and untreated waste disposed of openly behind the structures, have drawn widespread condemnation from parents who say the conditions are both hazardous and undignified for learners. Concerned mothers and fathers argue that the school’s sanitation infrastructure has been neglected for far too long, and that the situation poses an imminent risk of disease outbreak among the student population.
The grievances came to a head during a recent parent-teacher meeting, where school administration proposed that each parent contribute Ksh. 500 to fund the repair and maintenance of the toilets. The suggestion, however, was met with resistance from parents who argued that the burden should not fall on already-strained household budgets.
Speaking to journalists, parent Edward Gatimu expressed the frustration shared by many. “We are not in a position to raise the Ksh. 500 the headteacher suggested,” he said. “We are calling on the government to step in and utilise NG-CDF funds to address this problem.”
Parents also took the opportunity to question whether the local Member of Parliament, Mary Maingi, has channelled any Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) allocations towards the school — and if so, where that money has gone.
“We demand to know what is happening with the Constituency funding if the toilets our children use every day look like this,” said Wambura Wangondi, another parent who spoke during the demonstrations.
The parents are now calling on both national and county government authorities to urgently intervene and ensure that proper, safe sanitation facilities are constructed at the school. They insist that no child should have to endure such conditions while pursuing an education, and warn that continued inaction could result in a public health crisis within the institution.
