Seven million; raised for Laikipia West schools.

By Wa joe

 People from all walks of life converged at Sipili secondary school grounds to receive the former powerful cabinet minister; Nicholas Biwot, who was the chief guest at a fund raiser, ‘‘Harambee’’ held at the school on Saturday 17^th march 2012. 

The funds raised will be shared among twenty one secondary schools in Laikipia west district, to assist in fast tracking infrastructure development.

The day started in a low key with parents trickling in slowly, followed by several other guests who occupied the front seats of the dais as they waited for the guest of honor. Students from various schools were busy polishing their entertainment songs in the open field. At around mid day, choir groups were invited one after the other to entertain the audience. A student from Nyakinyua secondary School thrilled the parents with her poem entitled “Tarifa ya Habari”. 

 At around 3.00 p.m, the guest of honor arrived aboard a chopper. On Saturdays Sipili is usually bustling with activities since it is market day, but on that day everything went in disarray as people ran in masses towards the school. The usually robust market day at Sipili trading centre was brought to stand still, as people frenzied to Sipili secondary school, to catch a glimpse of the chopper as the guest of honor landed in a style. Youths jumped over the school fence to see the chopper. Many people also wanted to see the former famous cabinet minister face to face.

Nicholas Biwot, was accompanied by four other guests and his bodyguard.

Small children milled around the helicopter and photographers had a field day taking photos of people posing in front of the chopper. 

Everybody wanted to be snapped near the helicopter for future remembrance.  I asked a local photographer, Mr. Siwa, about the afternoon, and he just smiled and told me that the day was nice. He had made a booming business out of the chopper.

Clad in traditional regalia, the students from G.G Rumuruti secondary School, pooled large crowds to the dais, as they entertained the guest of honor with a thrilling Samburu traditional dance. 

Later at around 3.30 p.m the guest of honor was invited. He made a short speech where he introduced his party ‘‘The National Visions Party (N.V.P)’’. He officially started the fund raising where he contributed Kenya shillings 200,000 and received another two million shillings from a fund raising organized by a subcommittee in Nairobi. 

The quest received money from various secondary school principals and shortly excused himself as he was going for another function in his home turf in Keiyo. Mr. Biwot handed over to Dr. Mugo a lecturer of Egerton University to continue and left. 

 The guest of honor was escorted to the chopper by large swaths of people, many made desperate attempts to shake hands with him but they were repulsed by the security team. Mr. Biwot got into the chopper and the ‘‘bird’’ whirled the air, sweeping the dust across people’s faces and blowing off their hats before leaping into the air in a spectacular version. Photographers struggled to take the best photos as the chopper rose into the sky. 

Other aspiring leaders also attended the Harrambee so that they can address the gathering.

Over seven million shillings, were realized in the Harambee. The money will cater for development in the twenty one schools in Laikipia west the district.