More than ten secondary school students in Nyamira County, most of them orphans, failed to report back to class after their sponsor, Fr. Benard Nyarangi, was arrested and placed in police custody.
The learners, who rely on the priest for school fees and personal necessities, said they had gone to his Nyanturago residence to collect items such as soap, tissue paper, ointment, and pocket money, only to find him absent.
“We were told that he went to arbitrate a land dispute among church members, but instead he was arrested by police and taken to the cells for unknown reasons,” one student explained.
Church member Stylus Bogita condemned the arrest, describing it as unfair and unnecessary. He argued that the matter could have been resolved amicably without police intervention and appealed to the Nyamira County Commissioner to protect the priest’s reputation. Bogita further criticised officers at Kiambere Police Station for what he termed an arbitrary arrest.
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Community members have urged Kisii Diocese Bishop Okemwa Mairura to intervene and seek the Commissioner’s help to secure the priest’s release so that the students can resume school.
“Most of these learners have no parents and depend on the priest as their father. Let those in authority intervene, please,” said Jesicah Nyabwari.
Efforts by Education News to obtain a comment from Bishop Mairura were unsuccessful, as he was reportedly attending urgent church matters within the diocese.
By Enock Okong’o
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