Seven schools closed as wave of strikes hit one constituency in Makueni

MAKUENI COUNTY: A total of seven secondary schools in Mbooni Constituency, Makueni County have been shut down following a wave of students’ unrests, resulting to destruction of property.

Students in the affected institutions have reportedly been opposed to their schools leadership and the usual fear of end of term examinations.

First to be hit by the wave was Kitondo boys in Mbooni East district where rioting students went on the rampage and set the school administration block ablaze.

The school has had three strikes in less than two months and the students are said to be against the new principal Pascal Musyimi who they accuse of high handedness.

Mbooni East police Chief Peter Njeru said the students at the school used petrol to torch the offices where valuable records and other properties were destroyed.

Makueni County Director of Education Kamau Gatheru confirmed seven schools in Mbooni Constituency had been closed down over the strikes.

Gatheru named them as Kitondo, Nduluku, Kakuswi, Ndoo, Tututha, Itetani boys and Itetani girls’ secondary schools.

The Education Director said the underlying problem was the fear of mock examination especially for form four students who he said were behind the riots.

“We are on high alight and are not taking chances because we do not want a situation where there will be loss of lives”, added Gatheru.

Following the riots, Mbooni MP Kisoi Munyao will on Friday hold a consultative meeting with the top county education officials, Board of Management (BOM) and principals of the affected schools at Tawa social hall to discuss the matter.

Kisoi expressed his disappointment at the wave of riots and called for thorough and speedy investigations into the possible cause of the persistent strikes with a view to coming up with a lasting solution.