The Church Unites with Community to Bless School Children in Kilifi County, Kenya

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Jila Primary School is home to 910 students from the area of Bamba, Ganze Sub-County, Kilifi County, Kenya. The students who attend there walk to and from school each day, from up to six kilometers away, along bumpy, dusty roads to get their education.

The school has struggled to provide necessities like water, restroom facilities, classroom space and seating, which has made both teaching and learning a challenge. In 2022, the Interreligious Council of Kenya (IRCK), of which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a member, in collaboration with the State Department of Economic Planning, conducted Electronic Social Intelligence Reporting (E-Sir) exercises in Kilifi County and elsewhere. These reports identify gaps in social sectors of education, water, sanitation, health, nutrition and child and social protection. They then suggest mitigation measures. 

From this process, Jila Primary School was identified as having a shortage of water, toilets and classrooms.  Students were found to be congested in insufficient classroom space, while they sat on unstable benches and stones, without the desks or facilities needed for such a large student population. 

In 2024, with support from the Church of Jesus Christ, UNICEF, Mombasa Cement Limited and the state department, the IRCK launched a construction project to build an additional building for Jila Primary School, consisting of four classrooms, an administrative office and washroom, four toilets and two water points. In addition, 320 wooden desks were furnished for the students’ use.

On September 23, 2025, an official handover ceremony was held, which brought together government and religious leaders, community members and school administrators, including Her Excellency Flora Mbetsa Chibule, deputy governor of Kilifi County. Representing the Church were David and Lenise Onekawa, mission leaders of the Kenya Nairobi East Mission. 

School principal Samson Kahindi welcomed the visiting leaders into his newly built office, expressing his gratitude and belief that their “standard of education will go high” because of the donations that had been made to the school. 

Following the welcome and introductions, a tour of the new school block was given. Classrooms were full of happy children excited to see the visitors to their school. Chibule, a former teacher herself, visited each class in the block, interacting with the students and joining them in song.   

After the tour, the group was led to an area adjacent to the school where pavilions were set up for the handover ceremony. Thoughtful remarks were given by Linus Nsthigai, executive director of IRCK; Bishop Amos Lewa, chair of the Kilifi Interreligious Council; Reverend Sylvia Kadzo of Jila ACK Church; President Onekawa; and Deputy Governor Chibule. 

In his remarks, President Onekawa pointed out that, “When we invest in our rising generation, we invest in ourselves and our future.” 

Expressing appreciation, he added, “I’m so grateful that we’ve been able to collaborate with the Interfaith Council of Kenya, and others… to provide these opportunities; a proper education, a place to live, a place to learn and a place to realize their dreams and ambitions.”  

Speaking of the Church’s involvement, he explained, “We believe in the rising generation, in raising people up so they can be self-reliant and have the ability to work and plan out their own lives and so create their own futures.”

Deputy Governor Chibule agreed, stating in her remarks that, “Everyone has the potential of becoming whoever they want to be…  to become the best version of themselves.” She added, “We want to give the children hope and the children a future. We are here to witness this has come to fruition.” 

She spoke of the previous conditions of the school. 

“You can imagine, they were crowded in one classroom, maybe they were also sitting on the floor, but look at how the future has changed for them," she said. “They are going to learn better. They are going to have longer hours for interacting with their teachers. And I believe, by the end of their academic years, they are going to emerge successful.”

Following the program, the gathered leaders handed over a symbolic key to the school to Kahindi, which he joyfully accepted. In return, the Jila Primary School Board presented the donors with a gift of a goat, which they received with appreciation. The donors then gifted the goat back to the children of Jila Primary School.