The Star – Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has commended efforts by the Salvation Army Church to promote education in the area. Speaking on Monday, Oparanya said the church has provided infrastructural support to Forestal Primary School in Lugari subcounty. It also plans to build officers’ training college soon.
“The church has also donated huge tracts of land for both the secondary and primary schools,” he said. He was speaking at Forestal Secondary School during an inspection of the ground by the church leadership on Monday.
Oparanya who has been appointed church’s development chairman in the region said he is humbled by the appointment following the church’s development record. “The church has noble programmes aimed at benefiting the region immensely,” he said. Oparanya said he will avail his time to support its programmes.
The governor appealed to the residents to prioritise education as it is the main way of eradicating poverty and ignorance. “In this era of devolution, education is the only pillar that anchors development,” he said.
The Salvation Army Kenya West Territorial commander Kenneth Hodder said in the new development plan all dilapidated buildings in the two schools will be pulled down and modern structures put up. “We are determined as a church to provide ample learning environment for the students to enable them excel,” said Hodder adding that the three projects are projected to be complete in the next 10 years.