- Schools in these areas have witnessed a lack or low turnout of pupils as parents keep their children at home owing to the building tension and fear.
- Schools in Witho area including the Juhudi and Salama primary schools recorded a nil attendance on Monday.
Image: CHETI PRAXIDES
Learning was disrupted in Lamu following the killing of seven people by suspected al Shabaab militants on Sunday and Monday nights.
Six people were killed in Witho area in Lamu West on Sunday while one was killed on Monday in Bobo-Sunkia village in Hindi, Lamu West.
The situation has seen a mass exodus of residents from the affected and neighbouring villages over fears of more attacks.
Schools in these areas have witnessed a lack or low turnout of pupils as parents keep their children at home owing to the building tension and fear.
Schools in Witho area including the Juhudi and Salama primary schools recorded nil attendance on Monday.
On Tuesday, however, just about 25 pupils out of the 300 plus student population turned up for learning.
School heads and teachers have called on the government to ensure security in schools for both learners and teachers to ensure they are not attacked and that learning proceeds smoothly.
A teacher in one of the schools said they are worried about their own safety but have to report to school to boost the morale of the fearful learners and parents who have refused to allow their children out of the homes.
“We understand the parents who won’t let their children come to school because we are also worried about our safety. We hope the government will deploy security officers to our schools so that even as we carry on, we are guaranteed of safety,” the teacher who refused to be named said.
The situation was similar in Hindi following the killing of 62-year-old John Gichoya on Monday, as schools in the areas recorded a low turnout of learners following the attack.
At least three houses were also torched in the village before security officers responded to distress calls and thwarted other planned attacks by the militants.
At Bobo primary school, the turnout was low with the tension high as pupils peeped out of their class windows as if anticipating the worst.
Other schools that have witnessed absenteeism among learners are Majembeni Holy Angels, Mikinduni, and Kangaja primary.
Moses Kalama, a parent at Mikinduni primary, said as parents, they can not ignore the obvious signs of insecurity in their areas and as such cannot release their children until security is guaranteed.
“Its obvious there is a problem with security. In the past we have seen militants target schools and burn them down. We obviously anticipate the same here and that’s why we are keeping our children at home in the meantime,” Kalama said.
Some learners have fled with their parents from their villages to neighbouring Mpeketoni and Kibaoni areas and hence cannot attend school.
On Tuesday, Lamu West deputy county commissioner Charles Kitheka convened an emergency meeting with Hindi residents following the killing of one person and assured them of security.
“Let there be calm because the security agencies are working to ensure people and their property are protected,” he said.
-Edited by SKanyara
Image: CHETI PRAXIDES