“Stand for Your Rights,”Kalonzo Tells Kitui Residents

By Boniface Mulu

Kitui County: It was a day to praise the good works of a prominent Catholic girls’ secondary school in Kitui County  – and take some direct shots at William Ruto’s government.

Thousands turned out on Feb. 8 for a fundraiser to aid St. Angela’s Girls Secondary School in Kitui County, including a handful of politicians who used the occasion to slam Ruto’s ruling Kenya Kwanza government.

Dr. Benson Makali Mulu, the local Member of Parliament, lashed out at Ruto’s government over the education system’s use of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

“The CBC has a lot of confusion,” said Mulu, who represents Kitui Central Constituency. “The CBC is not clear. So I want to tell them (the Kenya Kwanza government) to streamline the system if they want the education in this country to succeed.

“We are gambling with our education in the country,” the MP said.

Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) Kenya, railed about the challenges facing the country, including over-taxation and the ongoing abductions across the country, among other things.

“So you the Kenyans you have to stand for your right whether you are young or old,” Kalonzo said. 

More criticism of Ruto’s government came from Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) leader Eugene Wamalwa, as well as Dr. Irene Muthoni Kasalu, the Kitui County Women’s Representative.

Along with the criticism, there was also plenty of praise heaped on St. Angela’s, considered by many to be one of the best schools in Kitui County.

“This school is my giant,” said Mulu. “I am very happy with its excellent work.”

Kasalu told the crowd that both her mother and mother-in-law are alumni of St. Angela’s.

“This school is so good,” said Kasalu. “It is a school with a good foundation.”

St. Angela’s is one of 123 secondary schools in Kitui County sponsored by  Right Reverend Joseph Mutisya Mwongela, Bishop of the Kitui Catholic Diocese.

Wamalwa, the DAP opposition leader lauded the school and the Catholic church “for standing with Kenyans.”

“In you, we see the future presidents, lawyers, engineers, and doctors among others,” Wamalwa said.

The Feb. 8 fundraiser helped mark the school’s 60th anniversary. St. Angela’s Girls Secondary School was established in 1965 and the first graduating class was in 1968.

After their speeches and contributions, Kalonzo and his entourage left for the Thome Village within Kwa Vonza Location, Lower Yatta District of Kitui County, to attend the burial of Kitui politician Daniel Kimanzi Muanga. The 75-year-old politician died on Jan. 27 at Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was being treated for diabetes complications.