Learning hit in Nairobi and Kisumu as demos resume

Learning in schools was yesterday paralysed in Nairobi and Kisumu.

Teachers in some schools sent their pupils back home and some parents kept their children away from school in anticipation of the riots during the Opposition-led demonstrations against the elections commission.

A spot check by The Standard revealed that most school heads had advised parents to let their children stay away from schools to prevent bad scenes witnessed during the previous protests.

In Kisumu, by 8am when the protest was building-up along major streets, no major activities could be witnessed in schools as teachers kept off for fear of being caught up in the fray.

At Aga Khan and Jalaram Academy, the school administration advised parents to stay with their children every Monday until the protests are halted.

"We received communication through short text messages that the administration was concerned over the state of the protests after deaths were reported in the previous incidents. We do not want to risk," said Walter Owino, a parent at Jalaram.

In Kibera, another hotspot in Kenya's capital, protesters barricaded Ayany-Olympic Road using burning tyres and boulders as early as 10am.

The road had several huge bonfires for the better part of yesterday morning, paralysing transport as both matatus and private cars could not access the road for fear of stoning.

At Raila Educational Centre, the primary school section was shut down after the institution sent learners back home at about 9am. However, the secondary section was in session but with the school administration monitoring the situation around the area.

One of the teachers at the primary section who spoke to The Standard said the decision was reached since, "in the last protest we assisted the pupils to hide for safety after police officers threw teargas at them in the school".

At Kibera Primary School, the situation was no different. The school watchman, who was the only person present, said the school closed early in the morning because of the protests.

But at Christ Educational Centre, both Nursery and Primary learners were going on with their classes. Some parents, however, did not allow their children to go to school following the ugly scenes that were previously witnessed.

 running battles

They said some children have been caught up in the running battles pitting the police and CORD protesters.

"My Standard Four son was teargased in the last protest. The gas affected his eyes, and that is why I decided to keep him at home today," said Isaiah Otieno, a parent at Ayany Primary School.

In Kisumu, at Aga Khan, both teachers and the pupils were away from school. The school gate remained closed as a few staffs ran errands within the compound.

Kisumu Girls, Highway Primary and Lake Primary were also affected as no major activities were witnessed within the institutions.

County Director of Education Sylvestre Mulambe however expressed concerns over the situation in schools.