Residents of Turkana County are up in arms after Education County Executive Committee (CEC) member Wiljustus Lopeyok Akwalata ordered the demolition of a classroom built by comedian Eric Omondi, just a day after its completion.
The incident has sparked anger and disappointment among members of the community, who were hopeful that the structure would serve as a much-needed educational resource for local children.
The classroom, which was constructed by Omondi as part of his philanthropic efforts to support education in marginalized areas, was celebrated by residents as a beacon of hope.
Moreover, Turkana children face significant challenges in accessing education, especially in remote areas, and the classroom was seen as an impactful solution to the shortage of learning spaces.
Local families had hoped that the building would help address overcrowded classrooms and improve the learning experience for their children.
The residents are now demanding answers from the county government, saying that the classroom was a saving grace to the whole community.
Also Read: Eric Omondi Builds House for Woman Beaten for Stealing Unga
Why the Turkana County Government Demolished the Classroom
According to the county government, the iron sheet structure was not up to standard.
The Education CEC ordered those constructing the building to stop immediately and asked youths to demolish it. The CEC claimed that Eric Omondi did not follow the right procedure during the construction.
“You have brought us great shame in this community. Your children have been given a classroom, shoes, and books and then you destroy all that.
“For so many years nothing has been done about the state of schools in this community. Now that Eric Omondi made a move it has become problematic. We have never seen anything like that,” lamented a resident.
Also Read: Eric Omondi Builds Classroom, Donates to Needy Pupils in Turkana
Eric Omondi Raises Money to Build the School
The comedian fundraised for the project under his ‘Team Sisi Kwa Sisi’ mantra online and built a classroom and bought learning essentials for needy pupils in Turkana County with the funds.
The school was named after the teacher who has been volunteering to teach the students for free.
“We named the school Teacher Kamaret Primary School after the amazing selfless teacher who volunteered herself to teach these children. We managed to give her a stipend to sustain her for at least two months,
“A lot still needs to be done because more than half of the children still don’t have uniforms, and the classroom is not 100 percent done. By the end of this year, we will have a complete school here with boarding facilities. God bless you,” said Omondi after the mission.
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