HOMA BAY: The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Homa-Bay branch has condemned the ejection of teachers from schools by parents over poor performance in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination. The incidents occurred mid this week at both Ototo Secondary School in South Kabuoch Ward and St Williams Osodo Secondary School. The parents who were dissatisfied with the schools’ performances reportedly stormed the principals’ offices and forcibly ousted them before subjecting them to mistreatment.
According to Kenya News Agency, the parents demanded the transfer of Principal Clement Obare after Ototo Secondary recorded a mean grade of 3.7 with no student having qualified to join university. They blamed the poor results on alleged mismanagement of school resources and inadequate learning materials under the principal’s leadership.
Homa Bay branch KUPPET Secretary Stephen Yogo emphasised the need for teacher safety and respect, and announced plans to relocate teachers from these schools to safer environments. He stated that the union would not tolerate mob justice or threats against teachers and pledged to prioritise the safety and well-being of their members. “The parents brought chaos in schools and we are going to ask the teachers to leave those schools for the parents to teach the students,” he said.
He urged all affected teachers to report to the union’s office to facilitate their transfer to other institutions. “We have discovered that the security of those teachers is at risk and demand that on Monday all teachers of St Williams and Ototo secondary schools to come to our office so that we can organise their transfers to safer schools for their peace of mind,” he noted.
KUPPET Chairman Jack Okoth supported Yogo’s stance, reminding parents that student performance is a shared responsibility, not solely dependent on teachers. The unionists echoed that they will do everything possible to ensure their members are taken to other stations where they feel safe to serve students.
The union further called on the government to expedite school capitation funds to ensure smooth operations and improve learning conditions in schools across the region. Meanwhile, Homa-Bay County Commissioner Moses Lilan has issued a warning to parents, declaring such confrontational actions illegal and disruptive to learning. He urged parents to seek legal remedies through the Ministry of Education instead of taking matters into their own hands. “I promise that law enforcement would take action against the individuals who engage in such disruptive behavior,” he said.