Uasin Gishu County Education Director Addresses Student Protests at Tendwo Secondary School
Uasin Gishu County Director of Education, John Gitonga, held a press briefing addressing the ongoing student protests from Tendwo Secondary School in Ainabkoi Constituency.
The students took to the streets earlier in the day, expressing dissatisfaction over several unresolved issues at their school.
“We have been having demonstrations by students from Tendwo Secondary School since morning. We tried to talk to them, but they refused and said they wanted to go up to the County Commissioner’s Office,” Gitonga explained. “We followed them closely and, upon reaching the County Commissioner’s Office, we engaged with the students and their principal to resolve the issues.”
The protests were largely fueled by the transfer of four teachers, a decision that the students claimed had negatively impacted their academic progress.
According to Gitonga, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has agreed to address the issue and find a resolution.
“The students are complaining that four teachers were transferred and were not replaced. We have agreed with TSC that we are going to solve that problem.”
Another concern raised by the students was the perceived ineffectiveness of the school’s Board of Management. The students demanded the dissolution of the board.
However, Gitonga clarified that dissolving a Board of Management follows a specific process and that it was not part of the students’ grievances.
“We do not even understand how the students concluded that the body of management is weak, but it is a challenge we are going to address starting tomorrow,” he said.
The protest also highlighted other concerns, such as the quality of food provided at the school, the absence of a school nurse, and the recent transfer of the school’s principal. Gitonga addressed these issues as well.
“We have told the learners, who are in a day school, that we are going to talk to their parents to improve the meals. As for the nurse, we will link the school with a nearby health centre.”
Gitonga assured the public that a new principal has already been appointed, and arrangements for the transition are in place.
He also emphasized that the safety and welfare of the students remain a top priority as the school moves forward.
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