DCI Sleuths investigating two head teachers over school protests
Two high school head teachers from Kwanza sub county in Trans Nzoia County are being investigated by sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) following two incidences of protests which resulted to indefinite closure of the schools in a span of a week.
While addressing the press in Kitale town, county DCI boss Mr Paul Songok confirmed that the two Schools are under investigations for criminal incidents that led to closure of the Schools even as the school heads are accused of mismanagement.
“Investigations are ongoing following the complains raised by the students to ascertain if there was any incitement of the learners,” Songok said.
St Monica’s Girls High School Kitale was closed after students were ordered to leave the institution following Sunday morning riots that forced Police to use teargas to disperse the rowdy students.
A day later, angry students of Friends Secondary School Namanjalala stormed out of School Tuesday morning and marched to Kitale town before proceeding to the County Education office to present their grievances.
Learners at both schools have protested over poor diet served to them, while complaining against little meals served to them.
“We are not given enough food and also the living conditions in our dormitories is wanting,” one student was heard lamenting from Namanjalala.
At Namanjalala, Police report indicated that learners were complaining about time to report to school, failure by the school administration to replace broken windows panes and alleged harassment by the School Principal Mr Richard Abong’o.
The angry students also alleged that the School Bus was used on other non School activities instead of students’ needs.
The students were addressed Ministry of Education officials in Kitale led by the County Director of Education Pamela Akello on the grievances given and were asked to go back to school.
At St Monica’s Girl High School headed by Mrs Grace Ataro, the students were pushed to strike over poor diet and unhealthy meals, insecurity at the school and poor state of school amenities.
Police reports on the Sunday unrest at the institution indicate that the learners broke out of the school compound and maliciously damaged the school gate and security lights.
Complaints by the learners recorded by detectives include poor diet, untidy cooks, and little food.
Also, the students claimed that the toilets were full and the poor state of the ablution block.
The County Director of Education Pamela Akello said the unrests are regrettable and that the ministry of Education has sent officers to investigate management of the two schools before making recommendations.
She supported the need to enhance teacher-student contact for timely attention to needs of the learners especially in boarding institutions.
“We are waiting for the investigation report to make a proper judgment of the strikes in the two schools. We are getting evidence from the School management Boards, teachers and students to find a lasting solution,” she added.
“All the issues raised by the learners will be addressed before they resume to ensure no interruption of learning again. I call on all Principals to ensure proper management of the learning institutions,”
Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) Trans Nzoia Chairman Eliud Wafula has urged the government to cub the students’ unrest ahead of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education( KCSE) exams.
“We are concerned with the closure of schools when students are set to sit for their national exams.We are calling for proper management of our schools,” quipped Wafula.
