OL JOROROK: A public school in Nyandarua West Sub County specializing in education for mentally handicapped children is urgently appealing for assistance to expand its facilities. The school aims to construct additional dormitories and classrooms to accommodate a growing number of special needs students.

According to Kenya News Agency, Ms. Monica Muraya, the institution currently serves 60 local students, all of whom are transported to and from school in pooled Tuk Tuk wheelers. However, the school’s capacity is severely limited, and there is an urgent need to increase its accommodation capabilities to serve over 100 students due to the rising demand in the community.

Ms. Muraya explained that the school has been the only facility for mentally handicapped children in the area since 2003, operating within the Gatimu Primary School. Recently, they had to relocate to an incomplete building intended as dormitory space because their former classrooms were converted for other uses by the primary school. “The chil
dren are now learning in a setting that lacks adequate facilities, which was never meant to be a permanent classroom,” she said.

The head teacher also highlighted that while the government has provided some support by assigning seven teachers to the school, the lack of proper infrastructure continues to be a significant barrier. This limitation has resulted in many children with special needs, including those with autism, mental challenges, and cerebral palsy, being unable to attend school.

Additionally, the school lacks essential amenities such as a modern gate and a direct water supply, which neighboring schools benefit from thanks to a solar-powered borehole. “We urgently need boarding facilities and more classrooms. Just recently, children from Passenga and Gathanji were turned away because we couldn’t provide them with necessary accommodations,” Ms. Muraya added.

The school is heavily reliant on donations for its operations, including a feeding program for the students, as many come from backgrounds t
oo impoverished to afford daily packed meals.