Kenia: Five schools closed over arson fears in Narok, Bomet

Kenia / 06 de agosto de 2016 / Por: RUTH MBULA – GEOFFREY RONO / Fuente: http://www.nation.co.ke/

Five secondary schools in Narok and Bomet counties have been closed following arson fears by the schools’ management.

Students at Endoinyo–Enkopit, Shankoe, Sosio and Shartuka secondary schools in Trans Mara as well as Kabungut Boys Secondary School in Bomet County have been sent home.

On Wednesday, Trans Mara West Sub-County Education Officer Samuel Sankale said students at Endoinyo–Enkopit and Shankoe Secondary schools had demanded that their school be closed since they wanted to go home like other neighbouring schools.

“They said they wanted to join their brothers [from] Shartuka Boys and Kilgoris Boys who have already been sent home after they too threatened to burn their respective schools,” said Mr Sankale.

The students are reported to have said that they could not be left to study alone while others were «enjoying [themselves]at home».

Mr Sankale said the students had started to show signs of unrest and they took the move to prevent damage on school property.

BREWING ANIMOSITY

The Education officer, however, applauded the students for not resorting to burning property to air their grievances, saying no school has so far been burned in Trans Mara.

But he said students at Sosio and Shartuka Boys secondary schools were ordered to go home after they became unruly.

He said they had threatened to go on the rampage and destroy property if their demands were not addressed.

At Sosio Secondary School, there had been a stand-off between Form Four and Form Three students since Saturday following the election of a Form Three student as head boy.

The situation worsened when the newly appointed head prefect questioned a Form Four student who turned up late for supper.

He said the school management got concerned about brewing animosity and decided to close the school before the situation could get out of hand.

HUNGER STRIKE

At Kabungut Boys in Bomet Central Constituency, the Nation learnt that the students had been on a hunger strike since Saturday following the administration’s decision to handpick prefects rather than through an election system.

They also skipped breakfast on Sunday morning.

On Monday, however, the students forcibly demanded the supper they had missed on Saturday alongside breakfast.

Some parents said they had received text messages from the school principal announcing the abrupt closure of the school and requested them to personally come and pick up their children.

“Kabungut Boys was closed on Wednesday due to students’ demands and the county director of Education has granted permission for its closure. No destruction has been done. Thanks,” said a text message sent to a parent.

School Principal Nelson Siele could not be reached for comment as his phone had been switched off.

Fuente noticia: http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/Five-schools-closed-over-arson-fears-in-Narok-Bomet/1107872-3329036-q6vuul/index.html