Student unrest leads to closure of two schools

Two schools were closed in Murang’a and Isiolo after students protested against various issues.

In Murang’a, students from Kiunyu Girls High School stormed out of school on Sunday at 3am for unknown reasons leaving only a few behind.

Murang’a County Director of Education Victoria Mulili said she has dispatched a team to the school to establish the reasons behind the protests. She urged parents to remain calm.

Murang’a County Commander said he has also sent officers at the school to establish the cause of the problem.

“We are yet to understand why the girls decided to storm out of school, but we are finding out. We understand there are problems facing some schools and we take this very seriously,” he said.

In Isiolo, learning was paralysed on Monday at Isiolo Barracks Secondary School as students protested the transfer of their headteacher.

PROTESTED TWICE

Students from the public school located within a military base have protested twice prompting the parents association to intervene and seek the help of stakeholders.

In Baringo, mock examinations have been banned in secondary schools to tame unrest.

Speaking during the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association meeting which was attended by more than 162 participants at the Kenya School of Government in Kabarnet, Baringo County Director of Education Willie Machocho attributed school unrest in the region to the mock examinations and poor governance.

He said most schools in the region go on rampage due to  lack of examination preparedness and poor infrastructure.

“Several schools in this region have recently gone on rampage,” said Mr Machocho.

PROPERTY LOST

He cited Tenges Boys High School, Reuben Cheruiyot High School, Maji Moto, Rosoga, Kisanana and Timboroa as some of the schools that have gone on rampage this term.

Barely two weeks ago, property worth millions of shillings  was lost after fire razed a dormitory in Tenges Boys High School in Baringo Central.

A girls school, Good Shepherd Secondary School in Makueni, was also reported to have been set on fire.

In Uasin Gishu County, two dormitories at Kamagut High School were set ablaze on Sunday. The dormitories were housing more than 150 students.

INVESTIGATIONS

Detectives, led by Eldoret West police boss Samuel Mutunga, on Monday toured the school to assess the damage and held a meeting with the school board.

“We’ve already launched investigations into the fire. We have interrogated some students,” said Mr Mutunga.

Last week, the Education ministry ordered principals to file daily briefs on their school’s security in a move to stop fire outbreaks.

Reported by Vivian Jebet, Ndungu Gachane, Florah Koech, Faith Nyamai and Wycliff Kipsang