Parents Storm School After Girls Go Missing During Strike

Parents on Wednesday morning, August 4, stormed Muthambi Girls School in Tharaka Nithi County after students staged a strike the night before. 

Neighbours to the school told Kenyans.co.ke that the strike began a few hours past midnight up to nearly 5 am in the morning. 

Some students were reported to have slept in the thickets while others left the school and disappeared into the night. 

"I woke up after hearing the commotion at 4 am in the morning. The students were chanting 'Haki Yetu Haki Yetu'. 

Police officers on duty in Tharaka Nithi County

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"They were so organised. It looks like the strike was well-planned," the neighbour alleged, adding that the students urged each other to refrain from vandalising school property. 

Another eyewitness added that the students, who were armed with torches, forced the security guard to open the gate and let them out. 

"They were well dressed and stormed out of school agitating for change in the school," the eyewitness added.

Reports alleged that the students were protesting against the school principal who they wanted transferred. 

Police officers from a nearby police post were deployed to the school to assess the situation and speak with agitated parents. 

The law enforcers sought to ascertain the issues and grievances that led to the strike. The school management stated that it would issue a statement on the demonstration in the course of the day. 

Schools reopened on July 26, with Form One, Three and Four students reporting on the said date. Form One students were admitted one week later, on Monday, August 2. 

Education CS George Magoha released more than Ksh17 billion to schools and warned headteachers not to send home learners with fee balances. 

Police officers patrolling in Kenya during the Covid-19 pandemic

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