Learning was today, August 23 paralyzed at Makohokoho Primary in Gatundu North, Kiambu County after tens of parents stormed the school to eject the school head over alleged mismanagement and embezzlement of funds.
Armed with twigs and placards painted with anti-school head writings, the furious parents brought learning to a standstill after they occupied the school with all manner of chants.
At the centre of their fury is alleged blatant abuse of funds generated from the sale of the school’s tea leaves, and trees and misappropriation of development funds raised by parents.
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The irate parents further accused the school head of facilitating the alarming dismal performance of pupils who they said have been registering very poor results during local and national exams.
They regretted that the school head who was deployed at the school five years ago has been dictating operations of the school without the consent of a committee elected to represent parents.
Led by John Mukui, the current chairman representing parents, the angry parents took issue with the school head for disregarding their letters detailing their concerns and proposed solutions.
“Enough is enough. We cannot continue seeing our children suffer in the hands of a poor manager who not only defrauds parents but also learners. This school has been generating over Ksh 500,000 per year in tea bonus payout but the money is not channelled to development. We have been raising these issues in vain. The school head must leave," Mukui stated.
Faith Wangari, a parent, said that tens of pupils have been transferred from the school over poor performance and increased monetary demands.
Wangari revealed that the school had established a wing to board class seven and eight learners for improved studies but the number has since reduced to ten pupils, a situation she said has thrown the school on the verge of closure.
“Our school head does not even hide her dubious activities. How can she demand school fees from parents outside the school even without a receipt? Her love for money is unmatched but we can no longer feed her and or support her projects using the school wealth, she must go,” Wangari said.
Further, the parents claimed that a section of the school teachers has been reporting to work while drunk thereby failing to execute their teaching mandate effectively besides painting a very bad picture to the learners.
“Some teachers come here staggering. We don’t know whether they are demotivated to teach or if they have other issues in life,” Ann Wangechi, another parent, decried.
Police drawn from Kamwangi Police Station were on the horizon to restore order.
Reached for a comment on the matter, Gatundu North Sub-County Education Director Edith Kariuki did not pick up our calls and did not reply to our text message at the time of publishing this article.
