By Horizon News Reporter
The government authorities have so far come out as laughable in the manner of their operations, majorly coming in to “arrest” issues that are aftermaths of what would otherwise be no issue at all.
The case in Butere girls’ play ‘Echoes of War’ that is now looked at in broader perspective as controversial would not be where it is if the authorities had taken the initial and early enough measures, other issues not withstanding.
“These discussions wouldn’t be here with us if the Sub-County officials, County and even Regional ones had taken the stances that everyone in authority now feigns to enforce,” says Jackton Ombui a guardian at St Mary’s Mumias girls.
This is the same narrative that is a wide scope concern of the parents and stakeholders of our school-St.Marys Mumias Girls.
1.Handling of the learners by questionable characters.
In not one or two occasions, it has been reported by parents and students that people of unknown and questionable backgrounds are being used to handle the affairs of the school in question.
Ombui affirms that in 2024, two persons were brought to school with the blessing of Miss.Monicah Buchichi ostensibly to rid the school of vices including lesbianism and theft and other vices.
The parent laments that what transpired is something regrettable. This was reported.
The diocese is well aware of it. This was followed early this year by same scripted acts. Some man referred to as a prophet whose character is fake to the bone came also to do these cleansings.
Students who asked for anonymity and talked in confidence to this writer during the April holiday, have also lamented that they were treated to theatrics never seen before.
Teachers were ordered to attend with role calls being taken. They(students) were then given some cards (@sh.100) and anointed with greetings. Some prophesies were done for some.
Regrettably, the vices that were being fought have even skyrocketed to unimaginable levels.
Lesbianism is now a common stuff to think of, Girls fighting over girls in the dorms and classes. Theft is another issue that the deputy principals have failed to control.
Inspite of the threats and anointments by the prophet (who the media referred to as sorcerer), things are running in the opposite direction, narrated Ombui.
The other persona in question is one Mr.Sam Vidambu. Some young man whose education is unrelated to matters Education but who has infiltrated the minds of many Principals ostensibly to give programs and strategies on performance of our schools.
Ombui reiterated that Currently Vidambu is the mentor of her candidate class. Visits the school and in cohortion, is given heavy allowances at the expense of many relevant programs.
Ombui stated that Vidambu and Buchichi have teamed up on matters that they themselves know and are aware of. What is known about the young man however is that he never did Education course at university and his programs which he is venting on the girls don’t even make sense.
“Why not get some real renown educationist and present them to the learners?
To these effect, the Ministry of Education at all levels are all aware of what is happening,” he said.
They have been in the same school purportedly to investigate, nothing has been done to the dismay of us the stakeholders.
This we demand should stop, he stated.
2. Finances
Let’s have a look at the issues already highlighted earlier on in social media and which nothing has been done about.
i. illegal extra levies to the tune of Sh10,500 p.a is being collected from parents. These monies are never receipted. The monies have Remedial Fee (sh.6000)., welfare for funerals and Development sum up the rest.
Ombui stated that, Now, from reports on the ground, these amounts were initially collected through canteen account which is controlled by Buchichi and her crony, Cedela who is also at the centre of controversy as was reported earlier.
Ombui points out that recently, she directed that another account be opened and she wanted nothing to do with it.
The account which collected Development funds for the school has no school CEO as the signatory. Also it’s not receipted?
“Surprisingly, the same fella who said she wouldn’t involve herself in the matters of this account dictates when withdrawals are to be made and how the same is to be used,” said Ombui.
It is a sad affair that the teachers do not even get these funds from which we parents sweat to pay up!!
Now, about development, the Government allocates about Sh5,000 per student per year totaling to over Sh10 million.
Buchichi promised last year to do buildings particularly staffroom for teachers (we are told). To the dismay of many, she has repainted one of the old rooms which she intends to use in accounting for this over Sh10 million!!!.
Also this is the same amount of monies that would be used to finish the Amukwachi Dorm.
The things she’s doing leave so much to be desired. Now, aside from these, she does a collection from parents of over Sh4,500.
These she calls development. What is this money really doing? Included is the amount to purchase a van? Since last year, we have seen any of these things she promised.
Concerning welfare, any death is still paid for by students yet she promised it would be a thing of the past,” he posed.
Who is going to salvage this institution before it collapses? Everyone in authority is watching or visiting but doing nothing to help.
What we know is they’ll come reeling when things go South. That is the kind of indignation we expect even after calling the government out. It is alleged that Buchichi is untouchable because of the connections she has with authorities from down to top. She does as she wishes!
ii. the Canteen and Bakery accounts.
It was reported that these were her arch-schemes of swindling cash from the school.
There is more than meet the eye in these two. This is why there’s need for thorough and independent, unbiased audit on these accounts, and also why was there is a sudden change in the remittances done on this account this year?
What did the monies earlier on collected (Sh10,500*2,100) last year do? No one knows. No one was told, said that annoyed parent.
iii. “Financial Days”.
The Principal has devised and effected ways of making herself some real cash through some flimsy strategies.
It is alleged that last year she organized for Fathers and Mothers Day to the amazement of the community.
The purpose she claimed was to raise funds to pay for needy girls. More than Sh2 million was raised in these. Surprisingly, the learners she claim to be paying fees for are often sent home for fees with the fee balances being reflected on fee reminders whenever they go home.
This year, the same is being planned for this coming second term. There is a strategic plan to coin parents into a “Harambee” to this “good course”.
“How I wish fellow parents stand up to these during the AGM that is being planned if it materializes,” he warned.
iv. Overburdened parents
in this Financial crisis and overburdened economy, the school through Madam Buchichi has demands that are unrealistic and which accumulate to the financial burden to us parents.
These extra levies and demands that parents give 5-reams of paper for Form fours is unrealistic. The intent we are told is for extra quizzes. This has not been the case in the near past . until the arrival of buchichi, these clandestine tests done during and around KCSE we are reliably told are meant to Boost the Means score in the best way known by her.
Of concern also are the fathers and mothers days, which are actually meant for Harambees.
“This as parents and stakeholders we feel should be stopped henceforth and the monies collected so far accounted for. Where is the government? Where is the Ministry?” He posed.
3. Learner Discipline
It is true the discipline of the girls is at some alarming low.
There is high level lesbianism that we as stakeholders are wondering what happened?
Girls caught in the act claimed to have been influenced by the’ ‘sorcerer’s’’ activities and talk.
Other vices include theft and Academic indiscipline. The Girls performance is gone to the bottom low. But they claim they’re assured of mean 10.0 plus.
They know they have the mechanism of stealing which was applied in the last KCSE.
Because the teachers are unable to control what is going on, the learners are now taking the mandate of disciplining their errant colleagues.
Just before closure some girls threw items belonging to ‘’lesbians’’ out of class and dormitories.
The culprits were forced to sleep in the sick bay area with security personnel on guard. Their parents were called to pick them the following morning with all their belongings. Ask Buchichi where was she when these was ongoing?
4. Remedials
Ombui states that there has not been these trend of organizing for remedial teaching in our school.
After realizing that time is catching up after so much disorganization and involvements in non issues and with the results showing so, there was planned remedial which aborted after the Education Officials were notified.
Information we have from the form four girls is that again they plan to open school on the 23rd April, 2025. This again is illegal by the direction of the Ministry. We wait to see the measures the latter will take.
5. Safety of the Learners.
Though the learners have reported about their insecurity in the dorms about a man coming to the dorm, sometimes naked with obvious intentions, the Administration has come out to deny vehemently.
Also, uninspected meat has been slaughtered and fed to the school community.
This again is an issue that has not been handled by authorities. Nothing has been done.
The cows were slaughtered in the fields by the school cooks and workers under the instruction of the Principal. Also, nothing has been done until she hurriedly built one recently.
The issues of hygiene cropping up are also worrying. The girls have been exposed to unkempt compounds to an extent that snakes are roaming around the school compound!!
A student in F4 was recently bitten by the reptile. That’s when the school reactionary took steps of slashing the tall graces around the Dorm areas.
Had the bite been fatal, we would see even the Minister himself arrive in this school.
We still plead for the government to step in and save our school.
