Nairobi — Witchcraft is greatly contributing to declining education standards in the district, a Catholic priest said yesterday.

The priest in charge of Kebirigo Parish, Father Christopher Oira, said students no longer attend morning and evening tuition for fear of abduction by witches.

As a result, the priest said most students are unable to prepare adequately for national examinations which explains why local schools perform poorly.

He wondered who were the perpetrators of the practice and yet majority of the locals purport to be Christians, adding: "Are you Christians during the day and witches in the night?"

The priest was speaking at Biego Secondary School during a memorial mass for 11 students who were struck dead by lightning at the institution in 1985.

Witchcraft, he said, had forced parents to transfer their children to school outside the district which is costly and at the same time turned away potential investors.