Secondary school named after Ida Odinga opened in Kibos
A newly opened secondary school in Kibos, Kisumu County, has been named after Dr. Ida Odinga, wife of the former Prime Minister Raila.
The name, Ida Odinga Girls Secondary School, Kibos, was suggested by Kisumu East Member of Parliament Shakeel Shabbir Ahmed after completing the construction of the institution, where he utilised funds from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF). Initially, it was called Kibos Mixed Secondary School.
The complex has 16 rooms and will accommodate students who have been learning at Kibos Mixed Secondary School. The school is expected to be turned into a girls’ school.
Before the grand opening, the area MP had handed them a bus.
Speaking during the grand opening, Ida Odinga accepted the honour, indicating that the institution stood as a beacon of hope, empowerment, and opportunity for young girls across the region.
Ida vowed to help transform the school further to excel academically and also improve its aesthetics.
“I am extremely honoured for this school to be named after me. No better gift could somebody give me other than this. Honourable Shakeel, thank you so much, and now that you have named if after me make sure that I come here quite often so that it reflects me,” Ida Odinga stated.
Support for the school
To keep alive her promise for the institution, Ida Odinga promised to sponsor four girls who are her namesakes.
“They are four. I will take care and pay their schools, and you must excel,” she pledged.
Further, Ida asked the school administration to list down priority areas, making it clear that she will ensure the needs of the secondary school are met.
“From now on, I will be coming to this school many times just to visit and see. If it is mattresses that are missing, I will bring them, if it is blankets, I will bring them,” Ida Odinga said.
“Identify the things you need in order of priority and put them down. I would like this school to be a centre of excellence,” she added.
Motherly advice
Winding up, Ida Odinga challenged the girls to take up more math and science courses. She dismissed the notion that those subjects were hard for female students in the country.
Ida Odinga maintained that the courses would open more opportunities to them.
At the same time, she implored the students to avoid engaging in alcohol abuse, arguing that it had ruined many promising careers in the country.
