- The stolen devices had been donated to the school in January 2024 by alumna Sheran Oradu in partnership with friends based in the United States
- The matter was reported to police, with officers from the DCI launching investigations into the break-in
- The BOM has resolved to contract a private security firm to bolster security at the institution
More than 1,000 learners at Amagoro Comprehensive School in Teso North Sub-County, Busia County, have been locked out of digital learning after thieves broke into the institution’s ICT laboratory and made away with 27 laptop computers valued at approximately Ksh400,000.
The burglary occurred on the night of Thursday, with the theft only coming to light on Friday morning when the teacher in charge of the ICT laboratory reported to work and found the computer room broken into and the laptops missing.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, school headteacher Ronald Orodi said the raid bore the hallmarks of a carefully planned operation. According to Orodi, the thieves first broke the lock on a small gate connecting the school to the neighbouring St. Thomas Amagoro Girls’ Secondary School, then broke into the school kitchen in what appeared to be a diversionary move to draw the night watchman’s attention away from the computer room.
“Nothing was stolen from the kitchen. As the watchman focused on that area, the thieves gained access to the computer room and escaped with the laptops,” Orodi said.
The headteacher said the suspects used five cartons that had previously contained newly acquired computers, along with two desk covers, to ferry the stolen laptops out of the school.
Orodi revealed that the stolen devices had been donated to the school in January 2024 by alumna Sheran Oradu in partnership with friends based in the United States, as part of an effort to strengthen digital learning at the institution. The school had also separately purchased additional computers to keep pace with its growing student population.
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He termed the theft a major setback to the school’s digital learning programme, noting that learners have since been deprived of essential ICT lessons as a result of the burglary.
The matter was reported to police, with officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) launching investigations into the break-in. Teso North Sub-County Police Commander Charles Chepkong’a confirmed that detectives were actively pursuing leads to track down the suspects. “We will leave no stone unturned until those responsible for this theft are arrested and brought to justice,” Chepkong’a said.
In response to the incident, Orodi said the school’s Board of Management had resolved to contract a private security firm to bolster security at the institution and reassure development partners and donors, adding that the firm would be insured against such losses.
The headteacher further expressed gratitude to the school’s development partners for their continued support, singling out Principal Administrative Secretary in the Executive Office of the President and Busia gubernatorial aspirant Arthur Osiya, who recently donated solar panels to improve security lighting within the school compound.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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