Secondary school teachers have warned the government from allegedly covering up gaps that exist in health policies.
KUPPET secretary general Akelo Misori said after the Mukumu Girls tragedy, it was evident that a lot of policies have been neglected.
“Rather than systematically addressing an emerging epidemic, the government is engaged in a massive operation to cover up evident gaps in school health, contrary to policy,” Misori said.
He said the gaps include routine checkups and laboratory investigations of key public health concerns.
He was speaking on Wednesday during a press conference at the union headquarters.
Misori faulted the dismissal of former principal Fridah Ndolo by Education CS Ezekiel Machogu on Friday.
“The forcible retirement of the school principal Fridah Ndolo, and dissolution of the Board of Management smack of a cover-up effort,” he said.
This is after three students and one teacher lost their lives to a food-related infection.
The Ministry of Health revealed that the students ate food that was contaminated with fresh faeces.
“Sending sick students home before the disease is properly understood could potentially transmit an epidemic to communities,” he said.
After the first week of the incident, the school was indefinitely closed down. The school management then sent home all students until further notice.
“Instead of kneejerk reaction, Machogu should convene a multi-agency team to review compliance with the Kenya School Health Policy 2018,” he added.
The policy provides guidelines for ensuring healthy environments in learning institutions.
