Muthambi Girls’ senior students lock form ones in dining hall as they go on strike

Muthambi Girls' High School students went on a rampage on August 3 and walked out of school protesting what they termed as high-handedness by the new principal.

The form four, three and two girls forced the form ones into the dining hall and locked them before leaving the school vowing to resume once the principal, Ms Rose Kiragu is transferred.

Some of the students who spoke to Mwingi Times outside the school said the new principal had declined to listen to their grievances especially on the meals.

They said that they were being fed on rotten maize that was bought before the closure of schools early last year due to Covid-19 pandemic.

"We have been eating rotten maize since we resumed school from Covid-19 disease break” said one of the students who sought anonymity for fear of victimisation.

A week before the closure of the last term, 19 girls were admitted at Chuka Consolata Hospital with stomach complications believed to have been caused by the bad maize.

Access denied

Parents have expressed disappointment with the school management after they were barred from accessing the school to know the whereabouts of their daughters who were yet to arrive home by 11am. 

They said the school administration never notified the parents of the 19 girls had been admitted to the hospital with stomach complications.

Ms Mary Makena, one of the parents said that she learned of the strike over the media and that the school administration was yet to send them text messages to notify them of the incident.

"My daughter is still missing and I have been denied access to the school to talk to the administration," said Ms Makena.

The media was also barred from entering the school with the gatekeepers stating that they had been issued with strict instructions by the principal not to allow media or even the parents to enter the school.

Efforts to speak to the principal or the County Director of Education Ms Bridget Wambua turned futile.

Mr Nicholas Mutegi, a resident said he heard screams at around 2am and by 3am, the girls stormed out of the school through the fence after the watchman declined to open the gate.

Story By DENIS MUTUA