Fawzia Ali Chief Consumer Business Officer at Safaricom (right), Zuhura Akoth, Gunila Ouko, Regional Lead Greater Western at Safaricom and Kepher Okoth Ooko, Grand Prize Winner of Shinda Mamilii Kama Bingwa (left) cut the cake during the Grand Winner home coming ceremony held at Kitere Primary School in Rongo, Migori County.
More than 800 pupils at Kitere Primary School in Migori are set to receive significant improvements to their educational environment thanks to the ‘Shine Kenya Shinda Mamilii Kama Bingwa’ campaign. This initiative, which awarded KES 5 million to grand prize winner Kepher Okoth, will fund classroom renovations, new desks, and the installation of clean water piping at the school.
Kepher Okoth, a 24-year-old motorcycle repairman, also received an additional KES 1 million for a community project of his choice. He chose to support his former primary school, where the renovations and clean water project will be realized with the help of Safaricom Foundation, which has contributed an extra KES 1.3 million. This brings the total funding for the school improvements to KES 2.3 million.u
Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi, Chief Officer of Consumer Business at Safaricom, explained the campaign’s design: “Winners of KES 1 million and above receive additional funds from Safaricom Foundation for community projects. Kepher Okoth’s initiative to renovate his former school exemplifies our goal of extending the benefits of this promotion to positively impact wider communities.”
The improvements are expected to alleviate the longstanding water supply challenges at Kitere Primary School, where students have historically relied on collected rainwater and water brought from home. Okoth expressed his gratitude, stating, “Starting today, students will no longer need to carry jerrycans of water each morning and afternoon. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the school.”
The school community also received school bags made from recycled Safaricom billboard materials, as part of the company’s sustainability program aimed at environmental conservation.
The head teacher of Kitere Primary School, John Kennedy Kodongo, expressed profound gratitude, saying, “We are deeply grateful to Safaricom and Kepher for their generous support. This contribution will be a tremendous blessing for hundreds of pupils and teachers who have long endured these difficulties.”
In addition to the school improvements, Safaricom is organizing a series of community engagements in Migori County. These include a medical camp offering eye care consultations, breast cancer screenings, general health check-ups, and child health consultations. Additionally, a free fistula camp will provide surgeries for patients with related issues, and new mothers in local hospitals will receive mama-packs.
The initiative showcases Safaricom’s commitment not only to individual winners but also to the wider community, ensuring that positive change is felt across Migori County.