Students from Majiwa Secondary School staged a protest on Friday, July 12, to demand the restoration of electricity at their institution. The students embarked on an 18-kilometer march from their school in Ndori to the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) offices in Bondo town, drawing attention to their plight and the urgent need for power restoration.
Background and Impact: Majiwa Secondary School, a county-level boys’ boarding/day institution, has been without electricity for the past four weeks. This power outage has severely disrupted the school’s academic activities, particularly at a critical time when schools are striving to make up for lost time due to delayed second-term openings caused by recent floods. The lack of electricity has halted studies and impacted the students’ preparation for upcoming exams.
The Protest: The determined students refused to leave the KPLC premises until their concerns were addressed. Their peaceful sit-in demonstration captured the attention of KPLC officials, who eventually involved the local police to manage the situation. The students remained resolute, demanding immediate action and a clear plan for restoring electricity to their school.
Resolution and Negotiation: In response to the students’ persistence, the area Officer Commanding Station (OCS) intervened and negotiated with KPLC officials. A promise was made to restore power to Majiwa Secondary School by Monday of the following week. To ensure the students’ safe return to school, the OCS arranged for buses from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) to transport them back, as they had already covered a significant distance on foot.
Future Actions: Despite the assurances, the students have vowed to return to the KPLC offices if power is not restored by Tuesday. Their determination underscores the importance of reliable electricity for educational institutions and the broader impact on students’ academic progress and well-being.
Conclusion: The protest by Majiwa Secondary School students highlights the critical issue of power outages and their far-reaching consequences on education. It serves as a reminder of the need for timely interventions and reliable infrastructure to support the learning environment. As the students await the restoration of electricity, their actions have shed light on the urgent need for efficient and responsive services to ensure uninterrupted education.
