Parents at Karima Comprehensive School in Ndia Constituency, Kirinyaga County, have sounded the alarm over the deteriorating state of learning facilities at the institution, warning that pupils, especially those in lower primary, are being forced to study in unsafe and unhealthy conditions.

The concerned parents are now urgently appealing to area Member of Parliament George Kariuki and the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) to intervene and rescue the situation before it worsens.

According to the parents, the lower primary classrooms are in a deplorable state, with broken structures, missing windows and poor flooring that expose young learners to cold, dust and strong winds. They say the situation has persisted for years despite repeated appeals for help.

Speaking on Monday, March 9, 2026, Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) Chairperson Esther Martin acknowledged the MP’s efforts in renovating some of the upper primary classrooms but emphasized that the lower classes have been left behind and require urgent attention.

“We appreciate the work the MP has done in renovating the upper classes, but the lower classes are still in very bad condition. Our children are learning in an environment that is not safe or comfortable,” she said.

Martin noted that the situation becomes worse during cold seasons, when young pupils are forced to endure chilly winds inside classrooms that offer little protection.

“When it gets cold, the children easily fall sick because the classrooms cannot protect them from the weather. This is affecting both their health and their ability to learn,” she added.

Learners hygiene

Another parent, Rose Wambui, said the challenges go beyond infrastructure, pointing out that the school also lacks a reliable source of water, making it difficult to maintain proper hygiene.

“The state of the school is very worrying. Learners struggle even to clean their classrooms because there is no reliable water supply in the school,” she said.

Wambui appealed to leaders and well-wishers to support the drilling of a borehole to provide a steady supply of clean water and improve sanitation within the institution.

She further noted that most of the lower primary classrooms lack electricity, forcing teachers and pupils to struggle during early morning lessons when classrooms remain dark.

“Without electricity, teachers struggle especially during early morning hours. It becomes difficult to teach effectively when the classrooms are dark,” she explained.

Parents also raised concern over the absence of windows in several classrooms, leaving pupils exposed to wind, dust and cold weather throughout the school day.

Margaret Waithera, another parent, said the poor learning environment is already affecting the morale and academic performance of the pupils.

“Our children leave home in the morning clean and ready to learn, but they return home dirty and uncomfortable because of the condition of the classrooms,” she lamented.

Waithera added that the situation is discouraging learners and making it difficult for them to concentrate in class.

“The environment is not conducive for learning. If nothing is done, the quality of education our children receive will continue to decline,” she said.

The parents are now appealing to MP George Kariuki, the NG-CDF committee, well-wishers and other education stakeholders to urgently intervene by renovating the lower primary classrooms, installing windows, connecting electricity and drilling a borehole.

They say improving the school’s infrastructure will not only create a safer and healthier learning environment but will also restore hope and dignity for the young learners at Karima Comprehensive School.