By Amy Moyi
Since it’s inception ninety years ago, Oloolua Primary School, which is the oldest school in Kajiado county has made remarkable strides.The school, which started in the year 1935 currently has a student population of 3285. This tremendous growth in the student population can be attributed to the tremendous infrustructural development in the school over the years.
One of the key pillars towards this growth is the school headteacher Dr.Irene Mwenda. She has been able to achieve this through resource mobilisation for infrastructural development projects and subsequently spearheading the construction of 32 classrooms and an administration block.
History and milestones
According to Dr.Irene Mwenda who has been the headteacher at Oloolua Primary School for twenty years, the institution had 338 students when she was appointed.
“When I took over, there were 12 teachers and 15 classrooms most of which were made from iron sheets and had no doors. The first thing I did was put up a fence and gate around the school,” said Dr.Mwenda.
In an effort to lobby for resources for infrustructural development at the school, Dr.Mwenda began writing proposals for funding to donors.
“I wrote the first proposal to the European Union in the year 2011 and was awarded 7.5 million Kenya shillings which I used to construct four classrooms and a toilet. Immediately I finished, they gave me 3.6 million Kenyan shillings to construct and equip the administration block,” said Dr.Mwenda.
The European Union(EU) funded project at Oloolua Primary School was ranked the best in the country out of 173 funded projects. As a result, Oloolua Primary School recieved additional funding from the Italian government. The funding was used in the construction of a modern kitchen,12 toilets and digging a borehole.
After the completion of the Italian government sponsored project, more donors reached out to Dr.Mwenda.
“We are currently working with Japan International Cooperation Agency. We have worked with Forum for African Women Educationalists, UNICEF, NICE, SEP, Korro from Spain who all came in as donors after seeing the work we are doing,” said Dr.Mwenda.
The launch of the competency based curriculum(CBC) resulted in the need for more infrastructure due to the rise in student population for junior secondary school.
“After our first grade six performed very well, many parents brought their children and the classrooms were not enough. Donors from America funded two classrooms and the member of parliament funded an additional two classrooms. Later, the ministry of education gave me eight million for eight classes and using recycled material I was able to construct sixteen classrooms,” said Dr.Mwenda.
Dr.Mwenda who was inspired to pursue the profession by her teacher while in class two, has reiterated the significance of a holistic education approach in ensuring good examination performance and institutional growth.
“The examination mean score has risen fron 230 in the year 2005 to 277 in the year 2023 which was the best in Kajiado North sub-county. My teacher told me,if you take education seriously, it will change your life and that has stuck with me till now,” concluded Dr.Mwenda.
In addition, Dr. Mwenda has personally sponsored hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children through school, using her own salary to create brighter futures. Her mentorship has inspired young leaders who are now catalysts for change in their own communities.
Awards
In recognition of her exemplary work, Dr. Mwenda has recieved a number of awards and recognitions including:
• Head of State Commendation (HSC) – Kenya Presidential Award
• Principal of the Year award in the year 2018
• Outstanding Headteacher of the Year – Teachers Service Commission
• NETFUND Green Innovation Award in the year 2021 for planting over 11,621 trees
• Sustainable Futures Champion Award – for climate and community resilience
• UNHCR Humanitarian Award – for mentoring refugee and vulnerable children
• Accountability & Transparency Award – from the European Union and CDTF
•Headteacher with a knack for raising funds and keeping learners in school
• LOANI Art & Culture Ambassador Award – for safeguarding heritage through art
