Murango seeks answers over dwindling day school enrolment and rising crime in Kirinyaga

Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango has challenged the government to address declining enrolment in day secondary schools and worsening insecurity in parts of the county, warning that the two challenges threaten education access and the safety of residents.

The senator has separately petitioned the Senate Standing Committee on Education and the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to investigate the concerns and explain the measures being taken to address them.

In his petition to the Education committee, Murango sought an assessment of falling learner numbers in day secondary schools, including the factors behind the trend, its impact on institutions and the possibility of some schools closing.

He cited Ichang'i Day Secondary School as one of the institutions experiencing declining enrolment, and raised concern about the future of schools established to bring secondary education closer to communities.

Murango noted that the expansion of day secondary schools through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), alongside the Free Day Secondary Education programme, had played a significant role in widening access to education. He warned, however, that falling enrolment could undermine those gains, particularly where schools struggle to sustain their operations.

He wants the Ministry of Education to explain how the trend is affecting capitation, teacher deployment, use of school facilities and the long-term viability of affected institutions. He is also seeking details of government interventions to attract and retain learners in day schools.

On security, Murango raised concern over what he described as increasing criminal activity, particularly in Ndia Constituency and Mwea West Sub-County.

He cited incidents of burglary, livestock theft, abductions, sexual assault, motorcycle theft, business break-ins and murder, saying the cases had created fear among residents and threatened their livelihoods.

He wants the Senate security committee to provide statistics on reported crimes in Kirinyaga over the past three years, broken down by sub-county and category of offence. He is also seeking information on investigations conducted, arrests made and suspects prosecuted, as well as explanations for the apparent rise in criminal activity.

Murango has called for stronger police patrols, improved intelligence gathering and community policing, alongside long-term security measures. He also wants security agencies to outline their preparedness to contain crime ahead of the 2027 General Election.

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