Parents withdraw children from troubled academy - The school should be closed and the Director prosecuted
March 17th, 2009
By Steve Mkawale and Susan Anyangu,- Kenya
A number of parents have withdrawn their children from Gilgil Hills Academy as anti-corruption officers prepare charges against the director.
For the past two days, panic has gripped the institution following the publication of a story on the death of a pupil in The Standard on Sunday.
"I came here after a parent called and said she had withdrawn her child and I decided to do the same after consulting my daughter," said a parent we met at the school’s gate.
A teacher at the school said some parents visited on Sunday and Monday after reading the story on the death of Linda Chepkorir.
"We have managed to convince others not to withdraw their children but majority opted to leave with the children," said the teacher who did not want to be named.
A former parent of the school who asked not to be identified contacted The Standard claiming that four years ago, her child fell ill and was not attended to until her condition took a turn for the worse.
The school Director Isaac Kamunya was arrested last Friday at the Stem Hotel in Nakuru.
He had attempted to offer a Sh70,000 bribe to The Standard reporter Mr Alex Kiprotich in a bid to stop him from publishing the story. Linda died eight months ago.
source.standard.ke