Maseno School has embarked on a major infrastructure transformation following the groundbreaking of 40 new classrooms and eight modern laboratories, marking the beginning of what officials have described as a new era for the historic institution.
The ambitious project, unveiled on Friday, is part of a wider KSh4 billion renewal programme promised by President William Ruto to give the 120-year-old school a completely new face.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Maseno School Board of Management chairman Rev. Canon Ambrose Weda said construction of the classrooms and laboratories is expected to be completed within six months.
Weda said the President had initially wanted the project completed within three months, but the contractor recommended a six-month timeline to ensure the work meets the required standards.
He said the transformation began after the school invited President Ruto to its 120th anniversary celebrations, where its leadership presented a vision for the institution’s complete renewal.
“We presented him with a dream that this school needs to be renewed and would need KSh4 billion. To start us off, the President gave us an offer, technically, the first one being this one,” Weda said.
He attributed the progress to a consortium of Maseno School old boys led by President Ruto’s adviser, Joe Ager, who helped champion the school’s infrastructure renewal agenda.
Ager said the government had deliberately opted against refurbishing the existing buildings, which have served the institution for more than a century, in favour of developing an entirely new campus.
He said the old infrastructure had outlived its usefulness and was no longer fit for modern learning.
“People thought we would repair or refurbish what is here and that it would be suitable for learning. That would not be possible because the infrastructure we have here has been here for 120 years,” Ager said.
He added that the new campus had been designed to serve generations of students, with the current phase featuring 40 classrooms and eight modern laboratories.
Ager said the next phase of the ambitious development programme would begin in the coming weeks with the construction of 270 housing units for teachers.
The institution will also receive a new multipurpose hall with a capacity of about 3,000 students, alongside a major sports complex featuring a football stadium and other playing facilities.
“In the next few weeks we are going to break ground for another construction which will include accommodation for teachers. We are going to have 270 units for teachers,” Ager said.
He added: “The next thing will be a multipurpose hall which is going to be big enough to accommodate 3,000 students. Similarly, we are going to start a sports complex, including a football stadium.”
Maseno School principal Peter Owino welcomed the development, saying the institution had continued to produce well-rounded students despite operating in ageing infrastructure.
Owino said Maseno had remained a strong community focused on academic excellence, character development and sporting talent, but its infrastructure had been its biggest challenge.
He described some of the existing buildings as dilapidated and thanked President Ruto for committing resources towards their replacement.
“Maseno School is a very strong community that has exceeded expectations in so many ways, securing the future of young people in this country through academics, character building and sports. The only thing this community has lacked is infrastructure,” Owino said.
He added that successive presidents and leaders had visited the institution, but Ruto’s intervention had provided a significant opportunity to fundamentally transform its physical infrastructure.
The ongoing works are expected to mark the first major phase of the KSh4 billion renewal plan, which officials say will ultimately transform Maseno School into a modern campus while preserving its century-old legacy.
