Eshikulu Boys: Inspirational Story of School Built on Rocks, but Achieves Top Results

• Eshikulu Boys has faced significant challenges in building infrastructure due to the rocky terrain of the compound
• However, Principal Zakayo Omaiyo has implemented creative solutions, such as a water reservoir project that collects rainwater from classroom rooftops for student use
• In an interview with TUKO.co.ke, Omaiyo stated that the school has experienced significant academic progress under his leadership, with the mean score increasing from 4.02 to 7.99

Kakamega: Eshikulu Boys Secondary School, established in 1986 by the ACK Church, was built on rocky terrain, with the construction of classrooms requiring a certified engineer.

In terms of education, the school is considered the top performer in Likuyani Subcounty.

What challenges does Eshikulu Boys face?

In an interview with TUKO.co.ke, Principal Zakayo Omaiyo discussed the challenges of making the institution stand out.

He noted that efforts to construct classrooms have been difficult due to the hard rock-filled compound, which has burdened both the teachers and the school board members.

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"Putting up a classroom is very hard, sometimes the school board members are unable to find a good engineer to put up a structure due to rocky compound, but all in all we sail through corners and find a contractor who comes, but very expensive," Omaiyo told TUKO.co.ke.

The principal said that all classrooms are constructed on rocks, with no foundations dug before building.

He said the contractor begins by spreading a mixture of sand and cement to ensure a solid structure.

"As you see here, a contractor just smearing sand or ballast mixed with cement on the rock before constructing, there are no trenches that are drilled for a foundation to begin," Omaiyo stated.

The hardness of the rocks has not intimidated the principal.

In addition to the sturdy classrooms built on rock, the innovative leader has implemented other projects that benefit students, including a water reservoir and a bio-digester.

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According to Omaiyo, all rainwater collected from classroom rooftops is directed to a water reservoir built on rock.

The water is used by students for washing clothes, bathing, and for toilets, as there are no latrines.

"Due to water shortages at the school, I decided to create a water reservoir project to collect rainwater from the classroom roofs. The collected water is used by students for bathing, washing their uniforms, and watering the agricultural gardens where they grow vegetables," Omaiyo added.

With support from the Likuyani NG-CDF, 15 modern toilets are halfway completed, and the sewerage system was fully funded. The project is expected to be finished and ready for use in the coming weeks, as planned.

" I thank the area MP and NG -CDF for holding my hand to come up with great ideas like putting up the toilets, Innocent Mugabe, the area Member of Parliament has helped in coming up with this modern toilets, all classrooms were renovated to make this school look like Starehe Boys Center," he said.

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The school, according to Omaiyo, has a modern two-story administration block, fully funded by the NG-CDF and ready for commissioning.

The project took nearly a year to complete due to the hard rocks that required strong materials, which led to increased costs.

"This administration block was built by a dedicated contractor who worked for a long time due to the conditions on the compound. Sometimes I had to encourage him not to worry but to work carefully. It has consumed a lot of money, but now it is shining," he added.

How does Eshikulu Boys perform?

Omaiyo said his students have performed well in education and other extracurricular activities since he joined the school.

He noted that in 2020, the mean score was below average, but now it has risen to over 7.99, with 80% of students securing direct entries to universities.

"I arrived when the school was struggling, with a mean score of 4.02. However, since taking full control, we've sent many students to universities, and I've consistently received mean scores above 7.99, indicating an average mark above a C+. This is just the beginning; next year, I expect remarkable results, with all my students achieving direct university entries," he said.

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The principal said that this year, the school has won gold trophies at both national and regional levels in science congresses, including the Kenya Science and Engineering Practicals (KSEP).

"My students won the golden trophy in the last national science competition. I am a proud teacher on a mission to transform the community through education and innovation," he reiterated.

The institution lacks its own playing grounds and uses the primary school field for games. However, according to the principal, their main focus is education, and they prioritise books over the field.

Kakamega students to represent Africa in US

In a related development, students from Booker Academy in Kakamega represented Africa at the Technovation World Summit in San Francisco, USA, after developing a malaria-focused app.

The school's participation was part of the Safaricom-sponsored competition, Technovation World Summit - Team Mars, Africa.

The students' project, called Malarax, is an app available on the Play Store that shares their personal malaria experiences and offers solutions to combat the disease.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke