Kenya’s First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto has commissioned key development projects at Unoa Comprehensive School in Wote, marking a significant milestone in improving learning conditions and restoring dignity for learners.
Speaking during the event, the First Lady described the transformation as a fulfillment of a promise she made nearly a year ago after encountering what she termed a harsh and undignified learning environment at the school. She said the interventions have restored hope through improved sanitation and the introduction of kitchen gardens to boost food security.
The First Lady highlighted her Voice of Children Initiative, which seeks to amplify the perspectives, experiences, and aspirations of children across Kenya. She noted that the initiative is anchored on the belief that children are not merely beneficiaries of development, but active participants whose voices matter.
“It ensures children have access to essential needs such as education, nutrition, healthcare, and safe environments, while also giving them a platform to express how these services can better serve them,” she said.
Beyond infrastructure, the school has embraced sustainability and innovation through kitchen gardens established by both learners and teachers.
“This is bigger than a garden. This is a culture being born—education producing not only grades, but solutions,” she said, noting that students have extended the initiative to their homes.
The First Lady recalled her visit on June 16 last year, when she found learners seated on a dusty field without basic infrastructure.
“What met my eyes was a dusty field—dust rising with every movement, children seated on the ground, exposed to heat and dust,” she said. “I asked myself… is this truly the environment where our children are meant to learn and grow?”
She said the experience prompted urgent action to restore dignity and create a conducive learning environment. “We must bring dignity to this space. We must restore hope in its physical form—not just in Unoa, but across Kenya,” she added.
The project includes a water system with a capacity of 10,000 litres per hour, serving more than 1,600 learners. Additional infrastructure comprises a community water kiosk, pipeline connections to key areas such as kitchens and handwashing stations, and a solar-powered system linked to a 50,000-litre elevated steel tank.
To further support learners, the First Lady announced the distribution of 1,716 pairs of school shoes.
“May every footprint you make be a step towards achieving your dreams and building a successful future,” she told the students.
She urged stakeholders to sustain the gains and replicate the model nationwide. “When we strengthen our learning facilities, we build a stronger nation,” she said.
Principal Secretary for Water and Sanitation Julius Korir lauded the timely delivery of the project, noting that it demonstrates the impact of strategic partnerships in advancing access to water, education, and sustainable livelihoods.
Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage Hannah Wendot Cheptumo praised the First Lady’s leadership, saying the transformation reflects what visionary leadership and collaboration can achieve.
Makueni County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi noted that the project has not only improved the school environment but also benefited the wider community through access to clean and reliable water.
Residents welcomed the initiative, saying it marks the end of long-standing water shortages in the area.
Unoa Comprehensive School Parents Teachers Association representative Daniel Kisianga said the intervention would significantly improve learning conditions.
“For many years, our children have been forced to carry water from home and nearby rivers for drinking, cleaning classrooms, and other needs, but that will now be a thing of the past,” he said, adding that renovated classrooms will further enhance academic performance.
He also expressed gratitude for additional support, including food donations and school shoes for learners.
The event was attended by national and county leaders, including Principal Secretaries, officials from the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority, Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, local administrators, clergy, and members of the Unoa school community.
