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Kenya: MP Condemned for Storming School
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
23 March 2008
Posted to the web 24 March 2008
Nairobi
A government minister is among those who have condemned the action by Naivasha MP, Mr John Mututho, to storm a local secondary school and incite students against their principal.
Education minister, Prof Sam Ongeri, Kenya National Union of Teachers, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KSSHA) and Kenya National Association of Parents (Knap) all defended Naivasha Girls Secondary School Principal, Ms Pauline Kinyua.
They said the actions of the MP were not "honourable".
They said Mututho should use protocol while raising matters of public concern.
The minister said Mututho's actions were "unacceptable and unwarranted".
He said the school principal was justified to throw the MP out of the institution.
Mututho had led a group of local leaders in storming the school. The girls stormed out of the school immediately after the MP exchanged harsh words with the principal.
Ongeri disclosed that Mututho had issued him with a complaint regarding management of the school.
"I was taken aback by the MP's conduct just days after I had assured him that I would investigate his concerns and act if necessary," said Ongeri.
He added: "I had asked senior ministry officials to look into the complaints and advise me on the next course of action, only to see the MP on television confronting the principal."
He said MPs had no right to intimidate school heads. He cautioned them to follow the right channels in matters of public interest.
He warned the MP to keep off the school.
Knut Secretary General, Mr Francis Ng'ang'a, said teachers would not allow any politician to intimidate and frustrate their members.
"Teachers cannot be subjected to such intimidation by anyone, not even the minister," he said.
He said teachers are under the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission and any complaints should be channelled through the two institutions.
Mr Cleophas Tirop, KSSHA chairman, said the actions and utterances of the MP were both "unwarranted and uncivilised".
Tirop said the MP should have followed the right procedures, including raising the matter in Parliament.
"The MP was simply seeking cheap publicity. He could have used his position to raise the matter in Parliament or seek audience with the Ministry of Education," said Tirop.
Mr Njau Kuria, Executive Secretary of Knut Nakuru branch, said he would mobilise teachers to demonstrate against the MP next week.
"The MP said he will go back to the school next week. We will be there to protest against the harassment of the head teacher," he said.
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He warned the MP to stop interfering with education matters in Naivasha, as it would have a negative impact on learning. Knap Secretary General, Mr Musau Ndunda, said the MP should have followed proper procedures.
He appealed to politicians to stop politicising education, as standards would be compromised.
Reports by Peter Opiyo, Morton Saulo and Beatrice Obwocha
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| Copyright © 2008 The East African Standard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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