By John Majau
A Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examination candidate at a school in Tharaka Nithi County missed the Mathematics paper on claims that she allegedly stole Ksh 2,000 from a teacher.
Kibumbu Primary school head teacher Ms. Hellen Njeri Chabari insisted that the girl would only sit for the examination if she returned the money she allegedly stole towards the end of last term.
Boda boda operators who found the girl crying at the school gate pleaded with Ms. Chabari to allow her to sit for the tests promising to raise the money and pay her the following day but she insisted she needed the money before the girl could enter the examination room.
Journalists who heard about the girl unsuccessfully urged Ms. Chabari to allow her to sit for the tests but she remained adamant.
“I will only allow the girl to sit for the examination after payment of the Ksh 2,000 she stole,” Ms. Chabari maintained.
The desperate girl went back home and returned to school with her mother but the head teacher still insisted that the money had to be paid first.
The frustrated girl went back home with her mother but later disappeared prompting her mother and other villagers to search for her fearing that she could take her life.
It took the intervention of the County Director of Education Bridget Wambua for the girl to sit for the second paper after she was found sitting in a nearby bush crying.
“My officers have handled the matter and the girl is already doing the examination,” Ms Wambua said.
The girl’s mother said she was still looking for the money but she was surprised that the head teacher would not allow her daughter to sit for the examination.
“I would have paid the money for my daughter to remain in school and sit for the examination without all these problems but I am a jobless single mother and have other children in school,” she said.
She noted that though the girl denied stealing the money, she never supported her or dismissed the teacher’s complaint and that she apologized and promised to pay back the money.
Mr. Kevin Murithi and Martin Munene, the boda boda operators who found the girl crying at the gate said they would still raise the Ksh 2,000 and pay the teacher.
