Mandongoi Primary School in Mwingi North sub-county, Kitui, has been thrown into disarray following a recent banditry attack, which has forced the majority of its pupils to flee with their families into the surrounding bush for safety. The attack, which occurred on Friday in Kiseuni village, involved armed herders from the North Eastern region, resulting in injuries to a young boy whose arm was shattered by a bullet. This incident has further exacerbated the ongoing insecurity in the area, severely disrupting the education of hundreds of students.
When journalists visited Mandongoi Primary School on Tuesday afternoon, they were met with a deserted and eerie atmosphere. The school’s gates were locked, and the classrooms, usually bustling with activity, stood empty. The headteacher, Joel Maundu, who arrived at the school upon learning of the journalists’ visit, described the dire impact of the insecurity on education at the institution. “You can imagine that we have a population of 527 pupils, and only seven of them came to school today. Again, only four teachers came to school because they too fear for their lives,” Maundu lamented.
The headteacher highlighted that attendance had been slightly better on Monday, with 20 pupils attending, but the numbers dwindled further by Tuesday. He also noted that four other schools in the surrounding area faced a similar fate, with their students and teachers abandoning the institutions due to fear of further attacks. Maundu expressed deep concern for the future of the students, particularly those in standard six, who are expected to sit for the 2024 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KEPSEA). “Incidences of banditry attacks have over the years made pupils in our school perform dismally in KCPE. Due to the current disruption, I fear the standard six pupils will perform poorly in the 2024 KEPSEA examination,” he said.
The insecurity crisis has not only affected the students’ education but has also exposed them to various social issues. Jeremiah Nyayo, a member of the school’s board of management, voiced his concerns about the plight of the displaced children, who are now vulnerable to social challenges such as immorality, teenage pregnancies, and drug abuse. The disruption of education and the exposure to unsafe environments pose long-term risks to the well-being and development of the affected children.
Kitui County Commissioner Kipchumba Rutto, who led a security team to the area to assess the situation, addressed the residents during a security meeting at Mandongoi trading centre. He assured them that the government was committed to restoring peace and security in the region. “I urge the police to ensure sufficient security so that pupils can return to school and continue learning. It is unacceptable for learners to be out of school,” Rutto emphasized. He further reassured the community that a security operation would be conducted to root out the armed herders causing unrest in the area.
The situation at Mandongoi Primary School serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for security interventions in the region. The community’s plea for safety and the restoration of normalcy is not just about education but also about protecting the future of its young generation. As the government takes steps to address the insecurity, there is hope that the displaced families can return home, and the pupils can resume their education in a safe and conducive environment. The call for immediate action is not just about academic performance but about safeguarding the fundamental rights of the children to education and security.
