Mukumu Girls’ disease outbreak: Chaos, tear gas at meeting on reopening school

by Wanja Waweru

Police were called to break up a parents’ protest during a meeting at Mokomo Girls’ High School in Kakamega County on Saturday.

Parents who were debating reopening the school after an epidemic of a disease that killed four are ordered to destroy the suspected contaminated corn in the institution, causing chaos.

Ezekiel Machugo, Secretary to the Cabinet of Education, ordered the destruction of maize on April 15 in an effort to avert another disaster.

Principal of Chikoti Girls’ High School, Sister Jane Mampun, replaced former Principal Feridah Ndulu, who was transferred to the Office of the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) Western Region Director. These changes are also confirmed by CS Machogu.

On Saturday, police officers dispersed parents who tried to storm the store to destroy corn using tear gas.

They fled the police officers and headed towards the nearby Khaiga market, causing disturbances on the Kakamega-Kisumu road.

At the meeting at the school were the Member of Parliament from Shinyalu Frederick Ikana, Elise Mohanda, the women’s representative, and the Senator for Kakamega Boni Khawale.

After parents vowed not to release their children before the corn was destroyed, the school’s scheduled May 2 reopening was called into question after the altercation between parents and police officers.

The parents sneered Irongo Ndirango, Commissioner of the Western District, after he explained that proper disposal procedures must be followed before the grain is destroyed.