SPEECH BY THE FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA,

H.E. MARGARET KENYATTA AT THE 5TH MURANGA

COUNTY
INITIATIVE
AWARDS
CEREMONY
AND
HONOURING OF HEROES AND HEROINES OF MURANGA
COUNTY AT IHURA STADIUM ON 19TH FEBRUARY, 2016.

It gives me great joy to join you in commemorating this 5th

Education Annual Awards Ceremony. I am honored to grace this
ceremony for the third year.
Today, we come to reward the hard-work of our students;
remember the sacrifice of their teachers; recall the value of
education, and renew our resolve to ensure that education is
available to all our children.
I thank the Members of Muranga County Initiative (MCI) for
consistently convening this important annual event, and for
their commitment to investing their financial resources, time
and talent towards improving education and learning standards
in the primary schools of this County.
I note that MCI has this year also invested in the creation of a
strategy to further improve the education standard of Muranga
County, and I extend my warm and sincere gratitude to them
for bringing about this improvement.
As we celebrate this award ceremony, I join my fellow parents
in expressing pride in all the students who are here to win
awards today. Students, you are our children and when children
succeed their parents have joy and peace. Today, we smile
because of what you have accomplished in your studies, but
one day we will be even happier when you achieve your big
dreams. We are here to invest in those dreams.
Among you, I am sure there are doctors and dentists, architects
and artists, scientists and salesmen, neurosurgeons and nurses,
inventors and investors. Maybe there is even a future Governor
or President seated here! I encourage you all to continue
working hard, and develop your talents so that one day, when
you achieve your dreams, you can come back here and invest
in the dreams of others, even as you say thank you to those

who made your success possible. In doing that, believe me you

will make us even prouder as parents.
This noble initiative is about hope. Each year, many bright
young children in Kenya fall through the cracks of our education
system, because they cannot afford to meet the costs still
associated with schooling. The Government has their part to
play in filling those cracks, but we also we have our role to play;
because when their education is compromised, it is our families
that are affected, our future that is threatened, and our legacy
that is compromised.
I am thankful that the Muranga County Initiative is setting an
example that every County can emulate. Today, as I note the
impressive rise in Mean Score from 240 to 247.68, its clear
that your investment is paying off and I am confident that what
you have sown you will also reap, in the fullness of time.
We have common dreams, we also have common challenges.
Our challenges must be overcome by hard work, collaboration
and partnerships such as this Muranga County Initiative. I
applaud Kenyans spirit of giving and kindness, which has
impacted lives of millions of Kenyan children.
Through, my flagship initiative Beyond Zero, and the First
Ladies Half Marathon, I too have experienced the willingness
and selfless giving of Kenyans to support initiatives that drive
development and change in peoples lives. In fact, I am
currently preparing for my next marathon and I invite you all to
run with me on March 6th in Nairobi.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
There are heroes and heroines of Kenya that have hailed from
this County. We remember amongst them Dr. Ephantus Njuguna
Gakuo, Dr. Gikonyo and Mrs Jane Kiano, Hon.John Michuki,
Joseph Kangethe, Mary Nyanjiru, Hon. Kenneth and Mrs Edith
Matiba, Charles Rubia, Mrs Muthoni Likimani, Dr. Eddah
Gachukia, Hon. Maina Wanjigi, Ambassador Karanja, Mr. Joe
Kibe, Bishop Dr Githiga, Dr Nyamu and right here Mr. Peter

Munga. Most had similar journeys to yours and became

exemplary leaders in our great nation.
I urge every student here to persevere in the pursuit of their
dreams, and emulate the example of these heroes and heroines
who have proved that achieving your dreams, is possible.
Thank you and God Bless You all.