Parents threaten to withdraw their children from Kerugoya School for the deaf amid leadership laxity claims

Kerugoya School for the deaf parents have threatened to withdraw their children from the school, following what they term as leadership laxity after girls were defiled by a deaf teacher last month.

Despite the case being at at the Kerugoya Law court, the parents have expressed concerns and safety of their children after girls were defiled and the parents allege that the school administration or even the ministry isn’t taking any action even after them placing concerns over the safety of their children.

Nominated MCA Harrison Bundi, who accompanied the parents to court, called on the Ministry of Education to take firm action against all those involved urging relevant government agencies to ensure justice is served and that children in special schools are protected.

Bundi also appealed to the Judiciary to provide court interpreters to assist people living with hearing impairments, saying that lack of interpreters is making it difficult for them to follow court proceedings and seek justice.

One of the parents whose child was defiled said she will not remain silent until her child receives justice. She urged authorities to conduct a full assessment of all learners at the school, saying parents are worried about the safety and welfare of their children.

“I urge the authorities to conduct an assessment on all learners at the Kerugoya for the deaf, I fear more may have been assaulted and are silent,” the parents said.

She also accused the school administration of failing to provide them with medical reports for their children, claiming that despite parents demanding for medical records, they have been turned down and the hospital instructed not to share any information until the schools authorizes.

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The parents further called on the government to transfer the school principal, accusing her of failing to properly address the matter. They said the school needs leadership that understands and can effectively handle the needs of children with hearing challenges and also protect them.

Another parent representative also criticized the school administration for what she termed as reluctance in handling the matter, adding that there could be more cases that need to be investigated.

Parents have now urged the government to conduct thorough investigations and ensure the safety of all learners at the institution; demanding the school be returned to its former sponsor salvation Army citing that the current sponsors are harming them.

The parents also called for the return of Salvation Army as the school sponsor, saying the current is not concerned with the students’ welfare.

“We want the school be returned to the salvation army we don’t even know how the transfer was done, when the former sponsor run the institution we didn’t get complains, now that another sponsor has taken over, one year isn’t even over and complains are piling up. We are going to withdraw our children, it’s not easy as the management is handling it, we as the affected parents have spent so much yet no answers, we want the school administrators transferred,” they said

By Jane Mugambi