State orders 5 Lamu schools closed over Shabaab scare reopened

The Lamu security department has directed the immediate reopening of all schools which were closed down three years ago in terror prone Basuba Ward in Lamu East.

All the five primary schools, most of which border Boni Forest in Basuba, Milimani, Mangai, Mararani and Kiangwe have remained closed since 2014 as Al-Shabaab militants intensified attacks that saw many teachers flee the region for fear of their lives.

Addressing journalists in his office on Wednesday, Lamu County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said security has been intensified all across the region and that he saw no reason as to why the schools should remain shut.

Mr Kitiyo called on parents to send back their children to the schools and warned that action will be taken against any parent who fails to heed the directive.

TEACHERS

The county commissioner said they have made prior arrangements for teachers and other instructors to teach the children in those schools.

He also directed that two schools which were closed recently due to attacks and raids by Al-Shabaab militants, including Ishakani in Lamu East and Pandanguo in Lamu West, to be reopened immediately.  

“We want all schools in Basuba Ward where the Boni minority community members live to be opened by Monday. We have made arrangements for teachers who will teach the children especially those in lower primary since the upper primary pupils have already been transferred to other schools in Kiunga and Mokowe.

SECURITY HEIGHTENED

“I ask parents in Basuba, Milimani, Mangai, Mararani and Kiangwe to cooperate with the government and send their children back to class. We don’t want any child at home. We have also beefed up security in Ishakani and Pandanguo. So those schools should also be opened with immediate effect,” said Mr Kitiyo.

On his side, Operation Linda Boni Director Joseph Kanyiri accused teachers who had previously been posted to Basuba Ward of using non-existent insecurity excuses as a reason for their refusal to return to teach in the Boni schools.

Over 400 pupils have not been attending school since 2014 after the closure of the five primary schools.

But Mr Kanyiri said security in the region is fairly stable and called on teachers and other civil servants working there to stop being timid and deliver their mandates without concerns over security.

COMFORT ZONES

He lashed out at teachers who are hesitant to report to work in the terror-prone areas saying the preference to work from comfort zones will not be tolerated by any State department.

“Let the schools be opened. I also appeal to the Teachers Service Commission to send enough teachers to Basuba Ward. The government has done a lot to stabilise security in those villages and people should stop over-emphasising on the state of security there. The public servants shouldn’t hide behind insecurity so as not to report to work,” said Mr Kanyiri.

The move to open the Boni schools comes just days after Lamu County launched a massive campaign dubbed ‘Rudisha mtoto shule’ which is meant to ensure all student admitted to Form One report to school.

The campaign also intends to have primary school pupils who dropped out and those who have attained school-going age but are still at home attend class.