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Library/primary school
Kinyambu & Nzavoni
Kinyambu Primary School Project – Enhancing Education Through Infrastructure and Community Support
Location: Kinyambu, Makueni County, Kenya
Partner: Kinyambu Rural Education and Community Development
The Kinyambu Primary School initiative is a collaborative effort focused on improving educational infrastructure, access to learning resources, and long-term academic outcomes for students in the rural village of Kinyambu, Kenya. In partnership with Friends of Kinyambu and Rainbow of Hope for Children, the project has completed the construction of a dedicated library building, installation of school fencing, and provision of essential learning materials.
Kinyambu is a semi-arid region approximately 200 kilometers east of Nairobi, home to a population of roughly 9,650, predominantly from the Kamba community. The village has only recently gained access to electricity, and the school now benefits from limited power connections in some buildings.
Before the project, the school consisted of simple cement-walled classrooms with barred, unglazed windows, minimal storage, and limited teaching resources. The new library, now fully operational and situated within the school compound, has become a vital educational space, supporting both students and teachers. The completed perimeter fence offers protection against livestock intrusion and motorbike traffic, preserving the school’s grounds and creating a safer learning environment.
This initiative is deeply rooted in community involvement. Parents, teachers, and administrators have embraced the project and are committed to its maintenance. Additionally, Cardinal Leger School in Saskatoon, Canada, has adopted the library and school as a long-term partner, continuing to provide support and resources.
The origins of this partnership trace back to a 2010 visit by Connie Gerwing, now a board member of Rainbow of Hope for Children. A request from the then-headmaster, Mr. Stephen Kamenzi, for a Canadian partner school led to a collaboration with Mr. Guy Werbicki of Cardinal Leger School. This cross-cultural educational exchange not only fostered global awareness and solidarity but also enriched language learning and inspired young learners in both countries.
“We are dedicated to uplifting the academic standards in Kinyambu as well as opening up our children to the outside world,”
– Mr. Stephen Kamenzi, 2010
Beyond infrastructure, the project has prioritized the provision of school uniforms for vulnerable students and resources for art, drama, music, and gymnastics, areas where the students have already won regional awards. The students also participate in environmental stewardship, including a tree planting initiative to combat local deforestation.
Despite the challenges of poverty and climate instability, the people of Kinyambu are determined to improve educational outcomes. Through continued partnership and investment, this project aims to foster a sustainable and enriching learning environment for future generations.
Rainbow of Hope for Children Society (ROHFC) has recently expanded its development initiatives in Africa, focusing on education, health, and agriculture in countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania. As part of this commitment, ROHFC is supporting the improvement of Nzavoni Primary School, located about 11 kilometers from the center of Kinyambu village in Makueni County, Kenya, a region with a total population of roughly 9,650 residents.
Project Background
After monitoring visits to schools in the Kinyambu area in 2013 and 2016, it became clear that Nzavoni Primary School urgently needed support. While a successful library and school resources initiative had already been launched at Kinyambu Primary School, Nzavoni’s deteriorating infrastructure posed serious risks to students and staff.
Classrooms at Nzavoni suffer from severe structural issues, including large cracks in the walls and termite-damaged roof supports, making them unsafe and unfit for learning. Consequently, many parents have been transferring their children to neighboring schools, where rising student numbers are now creating overcrowding.
Currently, Nzavoni Primary School has 177 students (94 boys and 83 girls) and 7 teachers. The school lacks a safe water supply despite having electricity. An estimated 160 students have left the school due to its condition, placing pressure on the local education infrastructure to accommodate these students elsewhere.
Socioeconomic Context
The surrounding community of approximately 250 families primarily engages in subsistence farming, growing crops such as maize, beans, and peas. Efforts to cultivate vegetables through irrigation have been hindered by pollution from a leaking oil pipeline contaminating the local river. Many families rely on remittances from fathers working in distant areas, while mothers care for children and maintain the farm.
While proximity to the Nairobi–Mombasa highway and the new railway line (with a station planned at nearby Kibwezi, 15 km away) may bring economic opportunities, these developments also pose social challenges, including increased risks related to drug use and HIV/AIDS. Restricted rail crossings have also added barriers to daily mobility.
Project Objectives
The Nzavoni Primary School project aims to improve access and safety, particularly for girls, who face higher dropout rates in poor infrastructure settings. Education is viewed as essential for empowering youth and preparing them for the rapid social and economic changes affecting the region.
The project involves the construction of two new buildings, which will include:
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Three new classrooms
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A head teacher’s office
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A staff workspace
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Lockable storage rooms for learning materials
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Rainwater harvesting infrastructure (eavestroughs and tanks)
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Furniture and essential classroom resources
These facilities will create a safe, functional, and attractive school environment, allowing the school to retain and attract qualified teachers and serve its community more effectively.
Oversight and Implementation
The construction and implementation of the Nzavoni project will be managed by ROHFC, following its mandate to support educational infrastructure. The Kinyambu Rural Education and Community Development Society, in partnership with the District Education Office of Makueni County, will supervise on-the-ground activities. The District Education Office will also be responsible for staffing the new classrooms with qualified teachers.
This project reflects ROHFC’s long-term commitment to supporting education and community development in under-resourced areas. Future initiatives may be developed to further assist the Nzavoni community as needs evolve.
