Parents of Nyamemiso Primary School in Kisii Central Sub-county staged a protest on Tuesday over what they termed as the illegal allocation of part of the school compound for the installation of a telephone booster station.
The parents, who gathered at the school early in the morning, said they were not consulted before contractors moved in to erect the structure.
They argued that the installation was being undertaken without approval from the Board of Management and the Parents Teachers Association, and raised concerns about safety and possible interference with learning.
According to the parents, the booster station was being put up near classrooms and the school field, raising fears over possible radiation exposure and disruption during lessons.
They also complained that the space set aside for the project was meant for the expansion of school facilities and playgrounds for pupils.
“We were shocked to find people digging and fixing equipment here without informing us. This is a school, not a commercial plot,” said one parent during the protest.
“Our children’s safety and learning environment must come first,” the parent added.
The parents demanded that the installation be stopped immediately and the equipment removed until proper procedures are followed.
They called on the county education office and the Ministry of Education to intervene and ensure that no public school land is leased or allocated without the knowledge and consent of stakeholders.
School officials said they had received complaints from parents and would convene a meeting with the Board of Management to address the matter.
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Attempts to reach the contractor on site for comment were unsuccessful.
The protest temporarily disrupted learning as parents blocked access to the area where the installation was taking place.
By Enock Okong’o
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