Students of ELCK Secondary School, Riyabu yesterday stormed Kisii over the high profile of their principal among other grievances.
The rioting students traveled for more than 10 kilometers to be listen on the list of problems related to their subject by Mr. George Oumadan, County Director of Education.
One of the students said that their main issue was to express their grievances to this institution, hoping they will find a way forward.
Some students carried leaves and danced, others entered shops demanding sweets and biscuits, others threatened people who tried to disrupt their protest.When given an audience by the director, they complained that Ms. Christina, the principal, was superior.
They also said that despite what the parents pay, they offer little food.Other complaints include lack of clean drinking water in schools, frequent power outages and insecurity in schools.
They admit that the school does not have a boarding school nurse, and they feel sorry for the security guard who gives them panadol pills when they complain about being sick.They also accused parents of neglect them despite paying fees.
“How can we see our parents being tortured in front of us and our teachers teach us to respect them,” said a form three student.
They gave the principal an ultimatum to work on the problem or they would leave the school.
The Principal, who was flanked by Deputy OCPD, Mrs. Gladys Zachary, Deputy OCPD, Mrs. Everlyn Kurgat and KESSHA Branch Chairman, Mr. David Osoro, thanked the students who were calm enough to express their grievances.
- But Mr Ouma contacted the school’s Board of Governors to investigate students claims and asked them to return to the school.
Your voice is our concerns children ,please I want you to go back to school and give us time to look into this matter with my colleagues in the best way, he said.
Addressing the students, Kenya’s Assistant County Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Muhuri, urged students to be at the forefront of maintaining peace in their institution.
He said unstable societies face many challenges and slow down development.
The officer wants them to face daily challenges by using coping mechanisms and finding effective ways to resolve conflicts.
On his part, Deputy OCPD advised students not to take the law into their own hands when they feel offended.“The Constitution of our country has concerns about all of us, but it does not allow us to use shortcuts while solving our problems,” he said.
The OCPD thanked the students for their peaceful demonstration, but advised them to engage in dialogue if they are upset because it is a modern way to solve problems.
It is so ironic that students did not complain about the lack of education when this is the main reason why they are in school.
