Unrest soars at Kabaa High School:The Anchor May- June 2011

Unrest soars at Kabaa school

UNREST at Kabaa High School seems un-ending after six boys were taken into police custody over arson charges. They were arrested by the other students and handed over to the police at Kithimani police station.

 ‘’They were cornered by colleagues after they set the building ablaze,’’  said Mwala District Officer Mr. Joseph Lenkarie who visited the school to assess the damage and attended a crisis meeting with members of the school management board.

 However, the ringleader identified by the school administration as Abdi Mohammed Yalo escaped as the other suspects were being rounded up by the other students but is being pursued by the police, Mr. Lenkarie who was accompanied to the scene by the Officer Commanding Kithimani Police Station .

 The entire dormitory was completely destroyed including the students’ personal effects, beds and mattresses, according to the D.O who said the value was not immediately established.

 Local MP Mr. Daniel Muoki  condemned the incident and said the arsonists ought to be punished. The unrest is the third to hit the school in a span of four months. Learning was paralysed on March 1, this year, when the students’ numbering 230 walked out of the school protesting the cancellation of last years’ Kenya Certificate of Secondary Ex-ami-nation results for two former students over alleged cheating. "The frequent rebellion by the students is in-tol-erable and an impediment to smooth learning,’’ Mr. Muoki lamented.

Mbiuni Councillor Thomas Kasoa is urging the Government to take firm decisions affecting the management of the school to prevent it from deteriorating further into anarchy. He called on Ukambani leaders and Old Boys to move with speed to save Kabaa School from collapse.

The students endured chilling night as they trekked for over 25 kilometers to Mwala town to seek audience with education officials over the matter and several other grievances.

The students were bitter with the school administration for allegedly exposing the case to the Kenya National Examination Council. Earlier in February, the students went on the rampage setting ablaze two dormitories which culminated in their suspension.

 He said the riots showed that some-thing was wrong either the students them-selves or some teachers who might be inciting them or other grievances.

Kabaa high school was the centre of excellence during the colonial days, but the glory had disappeared over the years owing to mismanagement, poor leadership and negligence by local leaders.

Matters have not been helped by the turn-over of Principals. The Anchor established that a new Principal Mr Mr. Elijah Munyao, much as he claimed to be  committed to uplift the institution in terms of both academic performance and infrastructure, had quit the school, leaving it to his deputy Mr A.L Mutua. However, turmoil in the school has a lot to do with the discipline factor, which in turn in-forms performance.

How he tackles this menace remains to be seen. It may be that the school's run down infrastructure may be an indication of the state of education in Mwala- meaning that there is need to overhaul the way education is run in the entire district.