Students’ long walk to ‘welcome bus’

By Kenan Miruka

Hundreds of students disrupted learning and walked for more than 30km to ‘welcome’ their new school bus.

The 400 students of Riokindo Boys High School in Gucha District woke up at 4am on Saturday and trekked to Kisii town to receive the bus that was to be delivered from a Nairobi dealer.

On Friday, the anxious students, who had contributed Sh7.9 million for the bus for the past three years, walked to Kenyenya market, 6km away, to wait for the bus. It failed to arrive and they returned to school.

But the following morning found them on the road again, despite pleas by teachers to wait for the vehicle in school.

"We want our new bus. We shall trek whatever distance to welcome it because we have waited for too long," a student said.

And for the entire day the boys were on a journey that left them tired and footsore. Still, the bus was still nowhere to be seen.

Disappointed and exhausted, they started their journey back to school. Finally, at 7 pm, they spotted the bus, which was immediately put to work ferrying the ecstatic boys back to school.