Pictures opposite show the construction process. Picture 1 & 2 - the orginal school. Picture 3 - during construction (April 2004). Picture 4 suring construction (August 2004). Picture 5 - after completion.
Picture 6 - The opening ceremony.

The History
In 1992, tribal clashes started in parts of the Rift valley. Many people were affected, including the Kikuyu community who were evacuated from the land they had purchased. Their houses were burned down and animals stolen. In fear of their lives they had to leave. Most people lost relatives in the clashes.

They then came to settle in Elementaita, Kariandusi. They arrived with nothing. They had no food and no water supply and so had to spend whole days looking for water. Later, with a commendable attitude to self-help, a few people managed to construct water tanks. In 1993 they started Kariandusi Primary School with an enrolment of 35 pupils, taught in basic grass thatched classrooms.

In 1994, the community tried to start raising funds for a new mud and wattle school and gradually constructed 8 temporary classrooms. These were still in use when Col. Vialou Clark visited Kariandusi in 2000, immediately helping by providing school books and scholarships.

The Commitment
In 2002, the school roof was blown off. Col. Vialou Clark pledged to construct a new permanent stone-built school. On his return to England her started the KST with the help of fellow trustee, Charlie Hopkinson, the Director of Dragoman. In 2003/2004, the KST raised the £55,000 needed to fund a brand new school. The community has really appreciated the efforts made on the new school, and have indicated this by participating fully in assisting when asked by providing their labour free. Most of the paid labour comes from nearby, thus helping the generation of income in this semi-arid area.

The enrolment has risen and, with the newly elected Governments policy on free education where the community have provided a school, reached over 320 pupils in 2004. From modest beginnings in 1993, that is almost ten times the number of your people now receiving a good education in a single Rift Valley community.

The Building Team
Headed by Colonel Harry Vialou-Clarke from the UK and Mathenge Ndiritu in Kenya, a team of Kenyan builders with the help of the local community, worked throughout 2004 to create a school that is the envy of the local area. It is a very fine achievement.

The new school has eight large and spacious classrooms, a fully equipped library, staff room, head master’s and deputy head’s studies, store-room and a large hall (two class rooms open into one large function room). It is beautifully located, has a water supply and will have (if funds are available) a football/sports pitch. Have a quick look at the Kariandusi Construction Diary to get an idea of the pace of progress and the hard work by all.

The Funding
For full details of the funding, please click here

The Opening
On February 14th 2005, Valentine’s Day the school was opened by The Hon. Ms Jayne Kihara, MP of Naivasha Constituency. The whole community must have been incredibly proud and it is a great statement on what a committed grass routes charity can do.

The Future of the School and Beyond
We will continue to monitor and help where neccessary at Kariandusi Primary school, but our efforts now must be to give help in neighbouring areas. There can surely be no better reason or encouragement to go on and provide schools in other communities in the Rift Valley.

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