In a world where most institutions wait for miracles, MM Shah Primary School chose the harder but nobler path — to build its own. Today, as the final touches are made on a gleaming 72-seater school bus, the school community stands at the brink of a proud moment that was two years in the making — a journey of vision, resilience, and collective faith.
What began as a bold idea from the Head of Institution, Mr. Michael Oriedi, has blossomed into a living testament of what unity and purpose can achieve in education. In line with the government’s education policy encouraging schools to develop internal revenue-generating initiatives to complement Free Primary Education (FPE) funding, MM Shah’s bus project has not only achieved that vision — it has redefined it.
A Dream Tested, but Not Broken
The dream was not without hurdles. Initially, the school had planned to acquire the bus through a loan facility, and a formal request for approval was made to the Ministry of Education. However, the ministry shot down the proposal due to unforeseen policy and financial constraints — a decision that could easily have derailed the dream.
But rather than retreat, Mr. Oriedi and his team turned the setback into motivation. “When one door closes, it doesn’t mean the dream dies,” he told parents during one of the consultative meetings. “It simply means we must find another way.”
True to that spirit, the MM Shah community got more determined — and that’s when the real journey began.
The Power of Collective Faith
Even as Kisumu Central MP, Dr. Joshua Oron, pledged Ksh. 5 million through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support the initiative once official approval was granted, the school decided not to wait for external help. Under Oriedi’s steady leadership, parents mobilized resources through a structured contribution plan of Ksh. 1,000 per child per term over seven terms.
The result? A remarkable Ksh. 12 million has already been raised out of the Ksh. 15 million target needed to acquire the iconic 72-seater bus. The parents’ commitment, their patience, and their belief in leadership have been nothing short of inspiring.
“When the ministry declined the loan, some of us thought it was over,” recalls Mrs. Millicent Akinyi, a parent. “But Oriedi reminded us that greatness is built on persistence. Today, we’re proud of what we have achieved together.”
Another parent, Mr. Peter Otieno, adds:
“This bus isn’t just a vehicle; it’s a symbol of unity and trust. We have seen our small sacrifices turn into something monumental.”
With the project now nearing completion, the school community remains hopeful that Dr. Oron will honor his Ksh. 5 million pledge — a gesture that would crown a story of determination with a fitting partnership between citizens and their elected leader.
Leadership with a Touch of Solomon
Behind this milestone is Mr. Oriedi’s Solomonic leadership — wise, steady, and deeply grounded in principle. His approach combined transparency, consistency, and unwavering focus on the end goal. Even amid dissenting voices and skepticism, he chose dialogue over defensiveness, keeping the school community informed and inspired every step of the way.
Education stakeholders across the region have lauded his leadership style, describing him as “a leader who listens, but never loses focus.” It is this blend of wisdom and conviction that transformed a rejected loan proposal into a celebrated community project.
A Bus with a Purpose
Beyond its symbolism, the school bus represents functionality, empowerment, and sustainability. It will ease transport for academic trips, co-curricular engagements, and inter-school competitions — while also serving as an income-generating asset, hired out to support internal programs and reduce dependence on limited government funding.
In doing so, MM Shah is aligning itself with the Ministry of Education’s vision of self-reliant learning institutions that can sustain operations through innovative strategies.
Positioning MM Shah as a Regional Icon
As the bus readies for its maiden trip, MM Shah stands tall among peer institutions in the lakeside region, setting a benchmark for school-led innovation. Its success story is already sparking conversations among education managers and community leaders who see in it a model worth emulating.
MM Shah is not just buying a bus — it is charting a roadmap for sustainable education, showing that where leadership meets collective will, even the most ambitious dreams can find traction.
A Legacy in Motion
For Mr. Oriedi, this project is more than an achievement — it is a legacy, one that will forever remind learners and parents that progress is built, not handed down. For the school community, it is a lesson in faith, unity, and visionary leadership.
As the engine of MM Shah’s 72-seater bus roars to life, it carries with it more than pupils — it carries the hopes, dreams, and shared triumphs of a community that refused to give up.
Indeed, this is more than a bus.
It is a moving monument of vision, wisdom, and collective determination — proof that when people believe, they build.
