Lipan Kitonga the school manager at Olng’arua Primary School and Community Education Centre in Leparua inspects the damage caused by arsonists | PHOTO-Courtesy
By Gerald Mutethia
As schools across the country re-open for the second term, learners at Olng‘arua Primary School and Community Education Centre in Leparua, Isiolo County will have to wait longer after unknown assailants destroyed learning materials as well as other valuables.
Lipan Kitonga, the school manager who was present when the attack happened said over seven armed attackers believed to be from neighboring villages stormed the school and started shooting forcing him to flee to safety.
The Attackers also burnt down two vehicles, vandalized and torched three classes and a residential building, destroyed water tanks, and a biogas digester, and stole a motorcycle and a water pump, among other damages.
According to Kitonga the school which started nine years ago is owned by the local community and helps pupils from the area to access education since there is no public sch“It has 130 pupils and was established in 2011. We had our first entry do their KCPE last year. It had reduced distance because the closest next school is about a walk two hours (10 kilometers) away.
“The elders from within were very thoughtful to establish to institution here. The assailants invaded the school with some livestock and started shooting indiscriminately forcing us to escape. They stole foodstuff, a solar panel, a TV, a First Aid box, and books, torched the staffroom, and my house, and killed one of my three dogs. I went into hiding and reported the matter at Isiolo police station by 2 am,” he said.
He added that he was saddened none of the perpetrators had been apprehended.
Parents and pupils at the school have appealed to the government to intervene to arrest the culprits and help restore learning.
Tain Kiptor, a class eight candidate wept uncontrollably as she pleaded with the authorities to re-open their school for them to catch up with the rest pupils nationally preparing for their end-year exams.
“We deserve a peaceful environment. I ask the government to deploy armed security officers in our school for it to re-open. I can’t believe all my and my colleague’s learning materials including books and even important documents were destroyed,” she said.
According to Dorcas Kiptur a parent, the school has been of great help to them since it also helps children from poor families access education without fees.
