Irate parents from Burie King’ori Primary school in Imenti South constituency have stormed and shut down the institution before calling for the immediate transfer of the head teacher.
The visibly angry and protesting parents also withdrew their children from the classrooms, accusing the head teacher Mugambi Nguthari of poor leadership and mismanagement.
However the head teacher was absent during the protest after he allegedly sneaked out when he learnt about the impending demonstrations.
The protesting parents blocked access to the headteacher’s office by nailing the door with timber.
Speaking during the protest, the parents said Nguthari had frustrated parents and pupils while ignoring the concerns raised by both the school’s board and the parents.
They alleged that he had consistently refused to account for school funds and mistreated learners by sending them home over minor issues.
“Today we have closed Burie King’ori Primary School because of the poor leadership of the head teacher. The head teacher never listens to our concerns and does not even listen to the school’s board,” said Damaris.
The parents cited a recent board meeting which they said Nguthari abandoned after being asked to provide minutes and financial reports.
They alleged that questions about money raised from the sale of trees within the school compound went unanswered, with the head teacher walking out on the committee instead of responding.
In addition, they accused him of punishing pupils unfairly, including cases where learners were sent home for lacking storybooks or birth certificates.
Some parents said their children had been barred from class even after school fees had been fully paid.
“We have a parent who has had their grade one child sent home for lacking a birth certificate. We wonder, where a birth certificate for a grade one kid will be used at the moment and why doesn’t he allow the parent to look for the birth certificate slowly by the time the child gets to Grade 3,” questioned the parents.
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Jane Nkatha, a parent at the school, said her Grade One child had been out of school for three weeks after being turned away for the same reason.
She explained that she had asked Nguthari for more time to process the certificate but was dared to report him if she could or transfer her child.
“I have my child for three weeks now at home yet I came and informed the head teacher that my child wasn’t born in this area. I pleaded with him to allow me time to follow up and process the certificate. The head teacher refused and told me to report him anywhere I want,” said Nkatha.
The parents also claimed the school does not issue receipts for payments and insisted they had completely lost confidence in Nguthari’s leadership.
They called on the Teachers Service Commission to intervene and post a new head teacher, saying that this was the only way the issue could be resolved.
Nguthari, was earlier arraigned in June 2025 after allegedly assaulting a journalist covering an earlier protest at the same school.
Efforts to reach out to the head teacher to give him a right of reply failed after calls went unanswered.
By John Majau
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