Makueni Senatorial hopeful Dr Andrew Mulwa. File Photo. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Makueni Senatorial hopeful Dr Andrew Mulwa has challenged students in Makueni County to work hard, remain disciplined and strive for global competitiveness, saying the rapid advancement of technology has transformed the world into one interconnected community.
Speaking on Friday during a funds drive to support the purchase of a school bus for Kiambani Comprehensive School in Makindu, Dr Mulwa told students that they were no longer competing only with their peers within their communities, but with young people from across the world.
“You need to realise that you are now in a global community. You are not competing with our fellow villagers. Now you must be globally competitive,” Dr Mulwa said.
He urged the students to embrace technology and innovation, challenging them to aspire to develop the next major global innovation from Makueni.
“The next discovery, the next Facebook, Twitter or TikTok, those innovations must come from here in Makueni, Makindu and elsewhere in our country because the global community is now interconnected,” he said.
Dr Mulwa noted that unlike in the past, when communication and access to information were slow, today's students have instant access to developments happening anywhere in the world through smartphones and social media.
He said this technological transformation presents both opportunities and challenges for young people, urging them to use the available resources to develop their talents and compete internationally.
“When we were in school, there were no phones, Facebook or TikTok. If you wanted to write to someone, you wrote a letter and sent it through a poster or a matatu, and it could take one or two months to reach them. Today, whatever is happening in the United States this minute, you can see it on your phone,” he said.
The former student of Makueni Boys and Machakos School used his personal experience to encourage students not to allow their circumstances to determine their future.
Recalling his early days at Makueni Boys, Dr Mulwa narrated how he once arrived at the school without shoes after misunderstanding instructions contained in the school's admission letter.
He said his father had bought him two pairs of black shoes and socks in Machakos, but he kept the shoes in a box, believing they were meant to be brought to school for special occasions.
“My father was very diligent. He took me to Machakos, we went to Bata, bought the shoes and I put them in the box. I went to Makueni Boys as if I was walking on iron feet while the shoes were in the box,” he recalled.
According to Dr Mulwa, the deputy principal, Mr Munyao, questioned him about why he had reported to school without shoes. He explained that the shoes were in his box because he had understood the school letter to mean they were only required for events such as drama and other activities, as had been the practice in primary school.
The experience, he said, did not prevent him from pursuing academic excellence.
“I studied without shoes when I went to Makueni Boys, and later I went to Machakos School. I got constant As in Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Geography and Agriculture,” he said.
Dr Mulwa said he eventually attained an A plain in all his subjects, emerging number 12 nationally before joining the University of Nairobi, where he graduated as a doctor.
“I want these students to know that you have the potential to be anything you want in this world. I went to school without shoes, but I became number 12 in the country and eventually became a doctor. So it is possible for you,” he said.
He urged students to take advantage of their time in school, describing it as the best period to concentrate on education because their primary responsibility is to learn.
“When you are in school, this is your best time. You are not looking for food, clothes or school fees. Your job is to study, work hard, be disciplined and follow what your teachers tell you,” Dr Mulwa said.
He also encouraged students to develop their talents beyond academics, noting that the Competency-Based Curriculum provides opportunities for learners to nurture different abilities.
“With the new curriculum, other talents are also being nurtured. There could be the next big thing in the music industry here. I have seen very good footballers here. I want the next Messi to come from here in Makueni. It is possible,” he said.
Dr Mulwa, however, emphasised that success requires discipline, focus, hard work and faith in God.
“If you forget everything I have said, just be disciplined, focused, work hard and depend on God. Believe in God,” he told the students.
He further called on parents to work closely with teachers and school administrators, saying community support was critical in creating a conducive learning environment.
“Parents, your job is to work together with teachers and the school leadership. Supporting the school is what enables students to have a good environment for learning,” he said.
The remarks came as Dr Mulwa joined parents, education stakeholders and residents in mobilising funds for the acquisition of a school bus for Kiambani Comprehensive School, an initiative aimed at improving learning and co-curricular activities for the institution's students.
