- Parents were, however, uncomfortable with the reopening dates.
- Khalwale said that the issues of water and contaminated food should be fixed before the school opens.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
The government has released the reopening programme for Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls High School which was closed three weeks ago over a diarrhoea outbreak.
During stakeholders meeting at the school on Saturday, Western Regional Commissioner Irungu Macharia announced that Form Four students will report back on Tuesday followed by Form Three on May 4.
Forms two and one will report on May 6 and May 8 respectively.
“We have told the Cabinet Secretary and the PS that the school is ready for opening starting May 2,” Macharia said.
Parents were, however, uncomfortable with the reopening dates.
Some said they will not release their students to the school and insisted that the food in the school stores should be destroyed first before students report back.
The meeting was attended by TSC and the Ministry of Education directors and parents.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda and Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana were also in attendance.
Khalwale said that the issues of water and contaminated food should be fixed before the school opens.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
The school was closed by the Western Regional Education officer Jerald Obiero on April 2, after the death of three students after a bacterial attack.
The school boarding mistress later died of the same attack.
“It is in the interest of both learners and the school. We have agreed that learning is suspended as we address the key issues." Obiero said while closing the school.
Obiero said that the administration team together with leaders had identified unsafe water from the school pumps from a nearby stream and the use of toxic chemicals for the preservation of cereals as the cause of the infections.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha confirmed that the deaths at the school were caused by food poisoning.
Education CS Ezekiel Machogu transferred the school principal Fridah Ndolo to the Western regional education office on April 15.
Machogu, who toured the school on Saturday to assess the situation, said President William Ruto had directed that Mukumu Girls be given Sh5 million to reorganise for reopening. The CS said that all the foodstuff at the school will be destroyed.