Over 100 angry parents stormed Oginga Odinga Tamu Secondary School in Muhoroni Sub-County, Kisumu County, to protest the school’s poor performance in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and alleged mismanagement. Waving twigs and chanting slogans, the parents demanded the immediate transfer of the principal, her deputy, and the disbandment of the school board.
The parents accused some teachers of having inappropriate relationships with students, attributing this to the school’s continued dismal performance. They claimed it has been 15 years since the school produced satisfactory results.
“I am a parent at this school. For the last seven years, students have been failing exams. Imagine, it’s now 15 years without any positive results. We want the current board disbanded, the principal removed, and the deputy removed immediately. This is our community school, and we want it to grow,” Maureen Atieno stated.
Another parent, Millicent Atieno, alleged that police officers guarding the school gate assaulted her as she tried to access the compound to check her grandchild’s results.
“They’ve refused to post the results on the notice board. I came to see my grandchild’s performance, but instead, I was whipped by police officers for no reason,” she lamented.
School Officials and Authorities Respond
Addressing the media, Caroline Ogutu, the Quality Assurance Officer for Muhoroni Sub-County under the Ministry of Education, urged parents to remain calm as their grievances are being addressed. She warned against destroying school property or threatening students and staff.
“We responded to a distress call at Oginga Odinga Tamu Secondary School and contained the situation. We request parents to stay calm while we address their concerns. Destruction of property and threats to lives will not be tolerated,” Ogutu said, commending the swift action of security personnel.
Muhoroni Deputy County Commissioner Stephen Emojong Odeke also called for calm, urging parents to explore alternative ways of voicing their concerns.
“This morning, we learned of plans for demonstrations at the school due to dissatisfaction with the KCSE results. We assessed the situation with the Ministry of Education and promised parents that their grievances will be addressed. We ask for their continued support of school programs,” he said.
The principal, Susan Akinyi, declined to comment, stating she was overwhelmed by the day’s events.
Parents Demand MP’s Intervention
The protesting parents called on area MP James Onyango Koyoo to intervene, insisting that the future of their children is at risk if the current administration remains in place. They threatened further action if their demands are not met.
