Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is facing growing backlash from Kenyans following a disturbing Citizen TV exposé showing schoolchildren in Tharaka Nithi County learning in extremely poor conditions.
The Motorists Association of Kenya joined the criticism, accusing Kindiki of neglecting his home county while leading high-profile empowerment programs across the country.
The uproar began after Citizen TV aired heartbreaking footage of students learning in dilapidated, roofless structures made of mud, some with gaping holes in the walls.
The viral clips, which circulated widely on social media, showed children sitting on stones inside the rundown structures, trying to study under conditions that many described as unfit for human use.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday morning, the Motorists Association called out the Deputy President for abandoning Tharaka Nithi, the county he once served as a senator.
They pointed out the contrast between the suffering students and the luxury in which top leaders travel — especially by helicopters that cost up to Ksh300 million to buy or around Ksh200,000 an hour to rent.
“In Tharaka Nithi, which is DP Kindiki’s own backyard, children are being forced to learn in broken-down classrooms that have no roofs and are falling apart. This is nothing short of a national shame,” the Association said.
“Meanwhile, our leaders are busy flying across the country in expensive helicopters, showing off and pretending to empower people while ignoring their own roots.”
The Association did not hold back in condemning what they described as misplaced priorities. They argued that the flashy, countrywide empowerment tours are more about image than real impact, and fail to address the urgent needs of local communities — especially basic education infrastructure.
They urged the government to redirect some of the funds used for empowerment drives to rebuild the collapsing classrooms in Tharaka Nithi and improve conditions for the affected students.
“How long will children be left to suffer in mud and shame while leaders fly overhead, tossing out token gifts and calling it generosity?” they asked. “This is not what leadership is meant to be. It’s a clear example of bad governance and empty promises.”
Citizen TV’s report further revealed that the education crisis in Tharaka Nithi affects at least six schools. Besides the crumbling classrooms, students in boarding facilities reportedly walk long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources. In some cases, they are forced to share the water with livestock, putting their health at risk.
The exposé has sparked a national conversation about inequality in resource allocation, especially in rural counties. Many Kenyans are demanding accountability and immediate action from the government to ensure children are provided with safe and dignified learning environments.
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