NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 7 – Davis & Shirtliff has partnered with Baringo Central residents to ensure the safety of Kokwa Primary School students and teachers as they cross the crocodile-infested Lake Baringo.
Davis & Shirtliff has donated a Dayliff outboard boat engine, while parents will provide fuel, and the school board of management will oversee the hiring of a qualified coxswain to operate the boat and handle its service and maintenance.
Through its ‘Improving Lives Initiatives’ program, Davis & Shirtliff has provided the school, which is situated in the middle of Lake Baringo, with a Dayliff brand outboard engine.
This donation is expected to significantly enhance the safety of 500 learners, teachers, and parents.
Joseph Ng’ang’a, Branch Manager at Davis & Shirtliff, Nakuru, stated, “The primary objective is to improve school enrollment and save lives that were endangered due to the hazardous daily commute.”
Mr Wesley Tulia, the school headteacher, explained that when it rains, the bridge connecting the island and the mainland becomes submerged, disrupting the learning process at the school.
He added, “Both learners and teachers won’t arrive late anymore when it rains.”
Previously, students had been risking their lives by crossing crocodile-infested water channels to reach the school. This perilous situation was further exacerbated by the frequent breakdowns of their aging boat engine, which was their lifeline for daily transportation.
These breakdowns made the journey to and from school uncertain and dangerous, as they had to navigate waters infested with crocodiles and hippos.
Furthermore, the school will take active measures to provide security for the boat, ensuring not only its continued operation but also the safety of all those who rely on it.
Kokwa is one of eight islands on Lake Baringo and is home to about 3,000 inhabitants.
