Security tight in Mombasa teachers’ conference

By Augustine Oduor

Security has been beefed up at the Wild Waters Center in Mombasa as some 6,000 Secondary School Head Teachers converge for their 37th annual conference.

Kisauni OCPD, Julius Wanjohi assured teachers of their security and said enough police have been deployed to enhance security.

“Teachers should not be worried because we have enhanced security at the Center. But we also ask them to be alert and report any incidences to the police or the security committee,” he said.

He said uniformed police and those on plain clothe have been strategically placed around the Center.

The teachers security committee said despite the travel alert issued by the American government, teachers have turned up in their numbers.

The committee coordinators Stephen Njoroge, John Kirui and Ibrahim Maalim told the Standard that teachers have been asked to be their own first security.

“As you can see there is intensive screening, the presence of police and sniffer dogs. But the government can only do so much. We have told teachers to be their own security and to be alert at all times,” said Njoroge, who is also the chairman Kenya Secondary School Heads (Kessha) Nairobi branch.

Kessha national chairman Cleopas Tirop said teachers will not be intimidated by the terrorist scare but said that adequate measures have been taken to protect the lives of teachers.

“We are all alert and we hope that with the security arrangements made the meeting should proceed uninterrupted,” he said.

Political leaders invited

The conference will however be marked with heavy political undertones as seven presidential aspirants are expected to grace the meeting whose main focus this year is “Change Management’ in a democratic society.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, his two deputies Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi have been invited by the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association to speak to teachers on various topics.

The meeting is organized by the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association Kesha (Kesha). Association national chairman Cleopas Tirop said this year’s theme is aimed at enhancing national cohesion and also to challenge politicians to commit to peaceful elections.

“We are not restricting the talks to education reforms only. This is a transition period and we cannot afford to leave this to politicians alone. That is why we bring them here to get their commitment to a peaceful election.

Tirop said teachers want to be active participants in the coming elections and added that all presidential aspirants and all other candidates will be put to task this week and in days to come to tell what they stand for.

“We can no longer sit and leave everything to politicians. That is why each of them has a fitting message for the teachers and we will hold them accountable,” he said.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman, Isaac Hassan, will on Monday speak on restoring voter confidence a head of the general election.

He is also expected to talk to school principals on their roles as educators and leaders in the society.

Vice president Kalonzo Musyoka will give a key note address immediately after Education minister Mutula Kilonzo officially opens the forum on Tuesday.

Former Higher Education Minister who is also the Eldoret North MP William Ruto will speak to the teachers on Wednesday on institutionalising democracy in Kenya.

Also to speak on Wednesday is Uhuru Kenyatta who is also the Gatundu North MP. He will give a talk on Leadership and Economic Development in Kenya.

Mudavadi is expected to speak on Politics and National Cohesion this Thursday.

Other presidential candidates invited are Martha Karua who will speak on Corruption and Impunity in Kenya.

Former education PS James Ole Kiyiapi has also been invited and will speak on Transformational Leadership.

Teachers Service Commission secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni will speak on Institutional Management and Governance.

Raila will preside over the closing ceremony on Friday.