Ngomeni secondary school wrangles deepen as parents differ over management

A section of parents from Ngomeni secondary school has dismissed claims that the school is being mismanaged by Principal Twaha Mwatsahu.

The parents accused area tycoon identified as Omar Mshamu, who is sponsoring over 300 students at the school, of causing the wrangles which have hampered learning activities.

Last week another group of parents went to raise complaints at the Kilifi County Commissioner’s office demanding the immediate transfer of the principal for allegedly mismanaging the institution.

They also addressed a press conference and expressed their dissatisfaction with Twaha claiming that he had appointed a school committee without engaging all parents.

They claimed the principal was after getting a school chairman and members who are friendly to him.

Twaha dismissed the allegations and declined to comment further saying the matter is being handled by his senior.

Another section of parents said issues affecting the management of the school must be addressed amicably and called on the government to intervene so that the principal can be allowed to work peacefully.

The school's parents association chair Ahmed Amin Farouk Chairman said it is dishonest to claim the school is being mismanaged yet records are positive and straight.

Speaking at the school, he said the principal has developed the school infrastructure tremendously adding that he joined the institution when it had only 90 students but because of his efforts, the school boasts of 650 students currently.

“They said performance has dropped since Twaha took over but it is wrong to talk without facts,” he said.

Farouk said in 2017 the school had a 2.52 per cent mean score while in 2018 the mean score rose to 2.90. In 2019 the school improved to 2.953 followed by 3.186 in 2020 with several students getting Bs.

Charo Chea Karege, a parent, said those spreading the allegations should present their evidence.

He said the problem is between the principal and an individual adding that their differences should not interfere with school operations.

“On the issue of the committee, we made the decision unanimously and there were over 200 parents present. It’s the parents to state that the committee should be removed but not an individual,” he said.

Ustadh Kassim, an elder from Ngomeni, also pointed an accusing finger at Mshamu for the leadership wrangles.

“The tycoon is using his money. We do not know where he gets the money from to cause wrangles at the school,” he said.

Mshamu, however, dismissed those faulting him for the wrangles saying they have no students at the school.

He claimed they are being used by the school principal to paint a rosy picture about the institution that is recording dismal performance.

Mshamu confirmed that he is a sponsor of five schools in the area including Ras primary, Milimani primary, Garite primary, Ngomeni primary and Ngomeni Secondary.

He accused the principal of running Ngomeni secondary school like private property adding that efforts to solve issues amicably have not bored any fruits.

He said they raised the concern to the Sub County Director of Education but still, the matter has not been resolved.

“I would like to call upon the security organs, Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, Ombudsman and Directorate of Criminal Investigation and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to intervene and investigate the matter for the truth to be known," he said.

Mshamu said they have been denied a chance to raise concerns over the management of the school as parents adding that he has sufficient evidence incriminating the school principal of mismanagement.

Edited by Bosco Marita