By ERIC WAINAINA

KIAMBU; KENYA: A parent in a public secondary school in Githunguri, Kiambu County, wants the school’s administration investigated for claims that it was swindling them of their money.

Irene Wairimu claims the administration at Gathiruini Boys Secondary School makes parents to send students who are suspected of drug addiction to this specific clinic for tests.

She says she was instructed by the school’s deputy head teacher to take her Form Two son to the clinic for the tests and rehabilitation. Wairimu said the deputy gave her the doctor’s contacts and told her they always refer parents to the facility when their boys are suspected of drug addiction.

“My son is said to have strayed from school and so he must undergo a drug test. The deputy head teacher was categorical that I must take my son there,” Ms Wairimu said.

Tested positive

At the facility, Freedom from Addiction Organisation in Kiambu town, she was charged Sh5,000 for the test and an additional Sh8,000 for ten counselling sessions totaling to Sh13,000.

The doctor in charge, James Karuri, said her son had tested positive for miraa, bhang and alcohol use and therefore the counselling was a must.

“I told him I do not have the Sh8,000 and requested him to give me the results, but he declined and wrote me a message saying there was no way he could give the results yet the process was not complete to the last counselling session,” she said.

Angered by the private doctor, she took her son to Mathari Hospital, a Government facility, for the same test where she was charged Sh1,000 and the test was negative.

The Standard is in procession of a copy of the report and a slip given to her by the hospital after the test as well as the Sh5,000 slip given by the private clinic.

Doctor results

However, the school has refused to take the Government hospital results, according to Wairimu.

“Why would the school send me to an expensive facility and why did this doctor say the results were positive and decline to give the report in document form unless I pay the whole amount,” she posed, alleging that the school must be working in cahoots with the clinic.

Dr Karuri said the school instructed him not to give the results to the parents on fears that they might doctor them.

Contacted, the deputy denied that they had a deal with the clinic but Karuri said they are in an agreement and he has already handled more than 100 boys from the institution.

“We do not work with the clinic and it’s the choice of the parents to have counselling done there or elsewhere,” he said.

A text message sent to Wairimu by the doctor indicated that she must have the counselling done there before the results are released to her.