A landmark collaboration between the Massachusetts National Guard and Kenyan authorities has transformed Kwa Njenga Primary School in Nairobi’s Mukuru kwa Njenga settlement, one of the city’s most overcrowded areas.
The expansion, unveiled on April 2, 2025, included a new two-storey building housing eight modern classrooms, sanitation blocks, drainage systems, fencing, and repairs to the school’s perimeter wall.
The $650,000 initiative was funded by the United States Department of Defense under its Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid program. It was carried out in coordination with Kenya’s Ministry of Education.
The improvements are expected to support up to 640 pupils and ease severe classroom congestion, which previously saw up to 80 children crammed into a single room.
“This is more than just a building,” said Maj Gen Gary Keefe of the Massachusetts National Guard. “It is a testament to what the US and Kenya can accomplish together for the good of future generations.”
The effort also marks ten years of partnership between Kenya and the Massachusetts National Guard through the State Partnership Program. The program fosters military cooperation to support humanitarian and regional security efforts.
Officials say the project responds directly to concerns raised by parents over extremist recruitment in the area. Al-Shabaab militants have been known to exploit vulnerable, out-of-school youth in informal settlements.
Lt Col Brian Ferland, who oversaw the project, recalled the difficult conditions. “We saw classrooms with 60 to 80 students, many sharing desks. As a former teacher, I found that unimaginable.”
US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Marc Dillard praised the collaboration. “This investment is a commitment to a stronger, safer future. We are not just building classrooms. We are empowering Kenya’s next generation of leaders and innovators.”
