Church locks out new school principal

Confusion reigned at the Cardinal Otunga High School in Kisii County, after the school sponsor locked out of office the newly posted Principal Dennis Munyendo.

Munyendo, formerly the Principal of Mukumu Boys High School in Kakamega County, reported to the school early this week taking over from Zachary Nyariki who has been transferred to Kimilili Boys High School in Bungoma County.

When the Standard Team visited the School Friday, it found the County Director of Education Dr William Sugut and the County Education Board Chairman Dr Henry Onderi holed up in a meeting with the school's Board of Management and the administration.

Dr Sugut did not address the media but promised to give out a comprehensive statement about the matter after the meeting, which was intended to give a way forward after the principal was denied access to his office by the board of management.

Vicar General of the Kisii Catholic Diocese Fr Jeremiah Nyakundi, told Saturday Standard that the church was not against the transfer of teachers but that adequate consultations ought to have been carried out “to ensure qualified people head schools sponsored by the church”.

Fr Nyakundi said that the church had issues with the personality and management style of the new principal and was carrying out a background check on him.

“This school bears the name of the first Bishop of the Kisii Catholic Diocese the late Maurice Cardinal Otunga who was a man of great values. We want the school he started to be led by the right people,” he said.

Fr Nyakundi said they have reports that the incoming principal had issues in his former school and that he was set to be rejected by parents and students this year.