Over 200 pupils and teachers of Kwakoko Primary and Junior School in Machakos County are reprieved after a betting company commissioned newly constructed state of art toilets in the institution.
Mozzart Bet Ltd commissioned the toilets for pupils and teachers at the school located in Kithimani ward, Yatta sub-county on Wednesday.
The company also donated one hundred desks.
The public school’s head teacher George Wawero said the project has not only restored the school’s dignity but also saved it from being closed down by the government.
“I’m happy and grateful for everyone involved in this project. It’s a project that has restored the school’s dignity. If it wasn’t for the project, the school could have been closed down,” Waweru said.
The project was presided over by Mozzart Bet Ltd county manager Sasa Krneta.
The headteacher said the school had old and dilapidated pit latrines that exposed learners to health risks and danger.
“Mozzart has rescued us. The situation was wanting. The children, teachers and parents have all been relieved,” Waweru said.
Waweru said attempts by the school management to mobilize resources from parents and the community at large to improve the institution’s sanitation had borne no fruits due to high levels of vulnerabilities.
He said learners had for many years had no dignity of going to the pit latrines hence the dire need for such a project to be implemented in the institution.
“The girl child used to go to the latrines in pairs; one to respond to the call of nature while the other shields her as a door since there were no doors in the structures,” Waweru said.
Waweru said the situation had negatively affected both enrolment rates and learners’ performance.
Krneta said the newly constructed toilets are meant to sort out hygiene and health, self–esteem and well-being as well as improve academic experience.
“In February 2021, we embarked on an ambitious project of drilling one hundred boreholes in the country. We, for instance, constructed a borehole at Kola ward in Machakos County.
After two years, we returned to the school and had discussions with the school principal, students and parents all of whom confirmed to us that academic experience had significantly improved,” Krneta said.
“Children’s education is important in present and future moments and that’s why we have this initiative as part of our Social Corporate Responsibility. We invite all corporates and other companies including those in the betting industry to join this initiative."
The Association of Gaming Operators chairperson Judith Kirago lauded Mozzart for what she termed an exemplary job and a good gesture to the Kenyan communities.
“Mozzart is one of our members. We are pleased to be here to witness the company commission the modern toilets as it donates one hundred desks to the school. We have looked at the old building and it was in a deplorable state,” Kirago said.
“They have constructed a state of the art toilet. This is one of the mandates that President William Ruto is asking gaming operators to do as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), reach out to communities and assist them in their respective areas of need,” Kirago added.
Kirago said they were happy to see the proud faces of children since they now have safe toilets to use.
“The learners’ self–esteem will be raised,” she said.