Maseno School has received a huge boost after President William Ruto directed the Ministry of Education to retain 25 teachers that the institution’s Board of Management (BOM) currently employs.
He gave the orders after the school Chief Principal Mr. Peter Owino revealed there are 40 BOM teachers on its payroll, a situation that had put a strain on the school’s finances.
Ruto who presided over the institution’s 120 years anniversary celebrations also donated Sh3 million to the school and pledged to build 40 modern classrooms, which would benefit approximately 1,600 students.
The head of state said 20 of the classrooms would be completed by the end of this year, paving the way for the admission of another 800 students in January 2027.
“There is no reason why we cannot admit 5,000 students into this school to benefit from the culture of this great institution,” Ruto said.
Currently, the school has little development in terms of infrastructure throughout its many years of operation and still uses a great deal of the facilities that missionaries erected a century ago.
Ruto pledged that the Ministry of Lands and Housing would construct dormitories to accommodate 2,000 students and the Ministry of Education would construct a multipurpose hall.
“Empires have risen and fallen, governments have changed, seasons of politics have come and gone, but Maseno has remained. We are producing leaders, scholars, clergy, scientists, public servants, and patriots, who continue to shape Kenya and East Africa to be what they are today,” he stated.
President Ruto further donated Sh1 million towards new musical instruments for the school band, as well as Sh2 million for student needs.
He promised to offer more assistance to a battered band instrument and also support for the school’s teaching staff, although he did not disclose the amount.
“Maseno School is not just a centre of learning, it is a living monument to the enduring values of education, discipline, leadership, service and nationhood,” Ruto said.
He added that the government will put more measures in place to ensure the school continues to serve as a cornerstone for education and leadership training in the country.
The school has produced notable leaders among them are Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga and Barrack Obama Senior, father of former U.S President Barack Obama.
Others include independence freedom fighter Achieng’ Oneko, scientist Thomas Odhiambo, historian Prof. Bethwell Ogot and the late first African Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Festo Olang’.
Ruto was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries Dr. Julius Ogamba (Education) Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Kisumu Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Interior and National Administration Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo.
Kisumu Central MP Dr. Joshua Oron and his Kisumu East counterpart Shakeel Ahmed Shabbir among others were also present.
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