SPEECH BY ENG. M. S. M.

KAMAU, CBS-CABINET SECRETARY,

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE AS THE GUEST OF
HONOUR DURING THE 21ST PRIZE-GIVING DAY AT MOI EDUCATIONAL
CENTRE, NAIROBI HELD ON SATURDAY 7TH MARCH, 2015.
The Chairman, Moi Educational Centre, Mr. Paul Chemngorem,
The Principal, Mr. Philemon Chibii,
Members of the Moi Educational Centre Board of Directors,
Chairman and Officials of the P.T.A,
Members of the teaching and non-teaching staff,
Parents,
Pupils/students,
I am delighted to join the Moi Educational Centre during this joyous occasion
of Prize-Giving day. I wish to note with appreciation that today is a special
day for your education centre and as you celebrate the annual prize-giving
event, I wish to congratulate the winners for their exemplary performance in
the various fields.
I am also pleased to learn that besides the individual prize winners, the
centre has since its inception in 1986, expanded both in terms of physical
facilities, students enrollment and making study progress in emerging as a
quality learning institute. Above all, the centre continues to produce top
performers in national examinations year after year, thereby cutting a niche
in the academic field.
I also wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge the important role played
by the school management, particularly the Principal, the Board of
Governors, PTA, parents and the entire teaching staff for working hard to
help these students achieve their dream for a better future. I understand that

this has been made possible through teamwork among stakeholders as well
as discipline on the part of students.
With a student enrollment of 1,980, Moi Educational Centre is a formidable
learning institution requiring strong leadership and management skills to be
where it is today as an academic giant. Those of us in government recognize
the crucial role private schools such as the Moi Educational Centre play in
supplementing the Governments efforts of providing sufficient and quality
education to our children in the country. I wish to observe that well-managed
private schools, such as Moi Educational Centre, supplement public schools
in providing quality education following the high demand for limited space in
learning institutions. In this regard, the government through the Ministry of
Education will continue to support the development and growth of private
schools in order to enable them supplement the efforts of public institutions
to provide quality education.
I note with appreciation that the vision of Moi Educational Centre is to
provide a well-rounded and outstanding education within a God-fearing
community. The schools motto, Strive for Excellence, endeavors to also
develop a self-disciplined, confident and compassionate individual who lives
and leads with integrity.
The schools emphasis on instilling the highest standards of intellectual
growth in the development of social and moral values and in preparing
learners for quality education and future careers is worth noting. The
emphasis on an all-rounded individual is commendable considering that
society today is in dire need of youth who are dependable and self-driven to
succeed in life. These are virtues which all learning institutions across the
country should be aspiring to instill to their students.
I therefore want to believe that todays prize-winners are a true
representation of every value that Moi Education Centre stands for and that
the art of winning wil make every one of you to push yourselves to achieve

your full potential. I want to ask the public and students like yourselves to
utilize your full potential by putting it to judicious and proper use besides
developing your character, personality and a culture of hard work to achieve
your aspirations and dreams. I also hope that todays prize winners will serve
as role models for the rest of the pupils to emulate since to strive towards
this end will represent the spirit of your school.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Constitution of 2010 has provided for free and compulsory basic
education as a human right for every Kenyan child. Kenya Vision 2030 has
singled out education and training as pivotal in transforming Kenya into
becoming a middle-class income and industrializing economy.
In its reforms, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology intends to
align the sector to the needs of Kenya Vision 2030, and the Constitution of
2010. The Ministry is focused on establishing Centres of Excellence, Elearning and strengthening capacity to ensure that quality and standards of
education are maintained.
Furthermore, I am also aware that the Ministry of Education has provided
schools with guidelines on social and environmental standards, school
infrastructure development and career-nurturing. I am glad that in the
Quality Assurance and Standards Manual for schools, there is a component
on safe transportation for learners. Many schools in the country are day
schools and learners have to commute to and from school using public
service vehicles and at times bicycles and motorcycles while many still walk
to and from school.
Unfortunately, learners have involved in accidents as pedestrians or
passengers. This has culminated to fatalities and injuries due to negligence,
ignorance or sheer irresponsibility in observing basic road safety rules.

I therefore urge all schools in the country to ensure that students are
conversant with the basic road safety rules and the Highway Code. This is
Important in order to ensure that students are safe when travelling to and
from school.
My Ministry has provided guidelines on school transportation through the
Ministry of Education and it is upon schools management to ensure that the
guidelines are adhered to. For instance, all school buses and vehicles should
be comprehensively insured, must be fitted with speed governors and must
be well-maintained. Their assistants should also be qualified, experienced
and P.S.V-licensed.
In addition, school transport must be fitted with appropriate seats and
seatbelts. It is illegal to paste undesirable display materials such as adverts
depicting alcohol, cigarettes and pornography on or inside school buses and
vans. This also applies to private buses and vans that are used to transport
students.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I cannot belabor the need to nurture our youth by instilling in them proper
societal values of honesty, obedience and hard work. This will fortify youth
against pitfalls such as drug abuse, alcoholism and negative peer pressure.
The availability of physical facilities and qualified teaching staff is good for a
proper learning environment, but this alone cannot guarantee excellent
results. The inculcation of discipline and mentoring of students to become
dependable members of society is also necessary in order to mould the
youth into responsible citizens.
I am happy that Moi Education Centre is at the forefront of ensuring such an
environment and good nurturing is in place. I commend the school for doing
so.

In conclusion, I take this opportunity to once again comment the Schools

Board of Directors and PTA for providing good leadership that has enables
the school to grow from strength to strength.
It is now my pleasure to commence with the awarding of prizes to best
performers in last years K.C.P.E exams.
Thank you.
Eng. M. S. M. Kamau, CBS,
Cabinet Secretary
TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE