Aasai

THE gate of Gatoto Primary School remained closed as the thugs defied a court order that required them to return the school to the community and to the previous management under Gideon Ndambuki. From a distance, a Taifa Leo reporter saw people inside the school preventing parents and the former management from entering. 

The tension arose after a court ruling ordered the school, which was forcibly taken over by the government through the Ministry of Education and converted into a public school, to be returned to its previous management. Parents who supported the court ruling expressed their dismay over the high fees they have been charged since the government took over the management of the school. 

Mrs. Pauline Akoth, a mother of three children studying at Gatoto, said the situation has been difficult for them since the government intervened. "They tell us it is a government school, but if you count the fees we pay now, it is higher than before. The problem we have now is about school travel money, we have to pay Sh4,000, exams Sh2,000. Until now, most of our children stayed at home, they did not take the exams," explained Akoth.

Initially, parents were paying Sh2,750 for the first term, which included food, exams, fees, and extra lessons. For the second term, they paid Sh1,500 and Sh1,000 for the third term. 

Parents also claimed that the school had completely changed, forcing them to start looking for alternative schools for their children. Virginia Wanjiru said the current leadership does not understand their economic situation as they come from shantytowns. “I went to apply for a letter to transfer from the school, but was told to pay Sh9,000. I was surprised, I only needed a letter to transfer the child,” said Wanjiru. 

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr Felix Mwangangi, said after winning the case in court, they returned to implement the court order. “Since the school was taken over, we have had many problems. There are many unexplained fees, and children are forced to attend extra lessons. If it happens on Friday and the child has not paid the extra fee, he is sent home, which is unfair,” said Mr Mwangangi. 

The Gatoto Integrated Development Project Manager, Mr Gideon Ndambuki, who is also the director, said the court ordered them to be returned to management of the school by June 12. However, he claimed that local politicians have been sending thugs with the help of the police to prevent them from entering the school.

However, MP Julius Mawathe’s personal assistant, Mr Urbanus Musau, who was present at the scene, said the school is already under the Ministry of Education, has a title, and is recognised as a public school. 

“The school was taken over by an NGO that identifies itself as a community. Although the court ordered them to return it, we immediately appealed, and the case will start hearing on August 6. We have already served them with court documents, so we are wondering why they are returning to take the school before the case is heard,” said Mr Musau. 

Musau claimed that the school had a total of 800 students before, but now has over 4,000 students with only one principal and two deputy principals. 

For his part, Mr Ndambuki denied receiving an official letter of appeal from the other side, saying they only received a notice of intention to appeal. "I have been told that our opponents have not formally appealed to the court. What they have given is only a notice of intention to appeal, which does not mean that the appeal has been filed," said Mr Ndambuki.