Parents protest at Kanyamedha Secondary School in Kisumu County to block the return of school principal Caroline Oriwa who was transferred from the school last month. (PHOTO: DENISH OCHIENG'/ STANDARD)

Parents of Kanyamedha Secondary School yesterday staged a protest against the return of Principal Carolyne Oriwa, who was transferred a month ago.

They claimed there was a plot to bring her back to the school after she was rejected in the institution to which she had been transferred.

The parents said they received text messages asking them to attend a meeting to decide Ms Oriwa’s fate, only for them to be locked out.

The chanting parents carried twigs and placards outside the venue of the meeting that was attended by county, education and constituency officials.

Disrupted  meeting

The enraged parents arrived at the school compound at 8am and demanded that Oriwa should leave. The protest comes barely a month after a similar demonstration saw the principal transferred.

The parents alleged that the school could not account for Sh9 million they contributed for the purchase of a school bus. They disrupted the meeting even as area chief Aloke Aboye and Central Kisumu Ward MCA Pamela Jose tried to calm them down.

The MCA said the Ministry of Education was investigating their claims.

“It is not mandatory that Oriwa works here. There are many other institutions where she can be sent. But we cannot condemn her without listening to her side of the story. That is why we are holding this meeting,” said the MCA.

She urged the parents to calm down and allow them to conclude the meeting.

“This school does not belong to us alone. That is why the Ministry of Education has brought officials to hear what has been going on. Let us deal with your representatives who are in the meeting,” she said.

But the defiant parents continued chanting, saying they wanted the school closed down if Oriwa was to remain. This prompted the area chief to order them to leave the compound. The dissatisfied parents continued chanting as they left.

Janet Akello, one of the parents, noted that they were surprised to learn that since they started contributing towards buying the bus in 2012, the purchase price had never been fully settled.

The parents also accused the principal of not accounting for the funds normally generated from hiring out the bus.