Gatundu South: Ituru Boys High School students strike, destroy property over midterm break

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 3 Nov, 2021 19:20 | 2 mins read
Ituru High students go on strike, destroy property. PHOTOS/MATHEW NDUNGU

In yet another show of indiscipline, another school in Gatundu South, Kiambu County has gone to strike with students destroying a school bus, classrooms and their principal's office.

Ituru Boys High School students went on strike today after they were allegedly denied permission to go home for half-term. According to the government, students should take mid-term break between November 19 and 23.

They are said to have started by shouting before their rowdy noises degenerated to chaos that saw the school bus destroyed before it was overturned as they left the gate.

Confirming the incident, Ituru location chief John Kihiu Njane who lives nearby said that he found the students having smashed dormitory and administration blocks window panes with stones.

According to him, the students had not lodged any substantial complaints to the school management to warrant their fury terming the unrest as having happened as a result of influence by students from other schools.

"We have started investigations to ascertain what happened. Some students have been instructed to return on Monday while others will be resuming their studies on Tuesday," Njane said.

Ituru High School now becomes the fifth school in the constituency that is also home to President Uhuru Kenyatta to go on strike.

Other schools whose students went on strike, destroyed school property and were dismissed until further notice are Gathuri Secondary School, Kiamutua Secondary School, Mururia Boys High School and Kimunyu Secondary.

Gatundu South Sub-County Director of Education Ann Maina said the growing unrest in schools saw her instruct teachers to stall any examinations and embark on curriculum activities that would entice learners.

By the time of going to press, Gatundu South School principals were held up in a crisis meeting with the area security details and high-profile education officers to devise mechanisms of arresting the deepening crisis.