Kirinyaga: Shock as MP discovers science lab he was to launch has been robbed

Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Joseph Gitari was left stunned when he arrived at Waigiri Primary School to officially launch a newly built science laboratory under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), only to find the facility completely stripped of its equipment.

Bunsen burners and other laboratory essentials that had been installed were missing, leaving the lab empty and the visitors shocked.

Speaking to the press after the shocking turn of events on Friday, September 12, 2025, the member of parliament said the discovery was particularly alarming as neither the school administration nor the teachers were aware of the theft.

He described it as discouraging that the robbery was discovered at the same time by both him and the school officials, even though the lab had been completed and handed over to the school’s custody.

“The Junior secondary school lab, which we had come to launch, was robbed. And the shocking thing is that Bunsen burners were stolen along with other items. But what is most shocking is that we discovered the robbery at the same time as the teachers and the school administration. They had no prior knowledge and only realised when we opened the lab. That is very discouraging. When we were done building the lab, we left it under the school’s custody. I was expecting that they would have information about the robbery at least because they knew we would open the lab on this day,” he said.

He noted that this is not an isolated incident in the constituency, explaining that similar thefts have occurred at other schools, including a recent robbery at Mutira Primary School, where a junior secondary school laboratory was also targeted.

The MP highlighted the growing concern over vandalism and the safety of school projects, stressing the urgent need for better security measures.

“Even another incident of lab robbery happened recently at Mutira Primary. It was also a JSS lab. I think now we will have to have a written agreement with the schools every time we go build labs where they vow to safeguard them from such incidents because it is very discouraging,” MP Gitari said.

Gachoki said that moving forward, stricter safeguards might be implemented, including written agreements with schools to ensure the protection of NG-CDF-funded facilities.

He also urged teachers to be vigilant, involve parents, and communicate promptly with his office whenever challenges arise.

“Now in Kirinyaga Central, we have only managed to build four labs. We want to say that vandalism is very worrying. If something is being stolen inside the school, what of the safety of our kids? I want to ask all teachers to be vigilant with all CDF projects, and that they must involve parents and even my office. If they see a challenge, they should communicate,” he said.

Police have since arrived at St Francis Waigiri Secondary School to investigate the theft, and efforts are underway to recover the stolen equipment and prevent similar incidents in the future.

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