Parents at the school in Mwingi North sub county decided to paralyse learning by pulling their children out of the school demanding the removal of the headteacher Mr Johanna Toto for allegedly running the facility as a one man show.

They were also protesting against the Kyuso district education office for failing to act on their grievances when they visited the office two weeks ago and demanded the transfer of the headteacher.

At dawn on Monday, a group of about 15 parents kept vigil at the school gate and later used thorny  tree branches and twigs to barricade the entrance. They effectively restrained access by teachers and learners.

“We turned away any pupils and teachers who showed up at the school gate on Monday morning. We will keep vigil and ensure no learning takes place until the headteacher is removed,” said the chairman of the parents and teachers association, Mukanda Mutisya.

He said parents at the school were fed up with the head teacher who had run down the school  since he took over three years ago. He said he ran the school as a one man show excluding parents and the board of management.

Mutisya further said the school head did not account for use of funds sent to the school for capitation or collected from parents despite his alleged obsession with sending pupils home for some dubious  fees.

“We are unhappy with the headteacher. He has caused many parents to withdraw their children from our  school. When he took over three years ago, the school had an enrolment of over 90 pupils. As of now, we have less than 30 pupils,” lamented Mutisya.

He said since the parents could no longer bear the offending ways of the head teacher they  wanted the education authorities to remove him before he caused the school's permanent collapse.

“We are furious that despite filing our complaint with the Kyuso district education office, no action  has been taken on our demands as the headteacher was still running our school,” said Mutisya.

The Kyuso sub county education officer ,Stephen Mulandi, told the media that the grievances of Kwa Mutisya  school  parents had been brought to his attention and he was dealing with the case.

He did not however disclose what action his office was likely to take and how soon.

Despite being a largely rural area where traditional lifestyles reign supreme, snake bites present a significant public health challenge, often resulting in devastating consequences for individuals and their families. I met with 32-year-old Ngoya Mutiso, a farmer from Kaiti sub-county, whose life took a tragic turn one fateful afternoon in January. "I was tending to my farm, just after the rains," he recounted, his voice quivering slightly as he recalled the incident. "I had just moved a stack of leaves when I felt a sharp pain on my ankle. In that split second, I knew something was terribly wrong."

Ngoya was bitten by a black mamba, one of the most venomous snakes in Africa. He initially thought it was a minor injury, a simple scrape perhaps, but as the pain intensified, he realized the severity of the situation. "I couldn't walk. My foot swelled up like a balloon, and I began to feel dizzy," he remembered, his eyes glazing over with the memory.

A neighbor found him and rushed him to the nearest healthcare facility, which was a small dispensary several kilometers away. Here, the lack of essential antivenom meant Ngoya faced a race against time, one that he was painfully aware could end in pain.

Ngoya's case is not an isolated incident. According to data from local health officials, Makueni County sees thousands of snake bites annually. The Kenya Snakebite Prevention and Control Consortium estimates that up to 5,500 cases are reported each year in the nation, with a significant portion occurring in regions like Ukambani, where agriculture often forces individuals into close contact with snake habitats.

Dr. Aisha Mwenda, a medical officer at Makueni Level Four Hospital, explained the growing concerns. "We see at least three cases of snake bites every week. The most affected are young men and women, who work in the fields." The problem is exacerbated by misconceptions about snake behavior and a general lack of awareness regarding preventative measures.

The repercussions of a snake bite extend beyond the individual. Ngoya, now recovering but still grappling with the psychological aftermath, explained how the incident affected his family. "My wife, Wanjiru, was terrified. I can't forget the look on her face when I was brought home," he said, sorrowfully. The loss of work during his recovery period meant financial strain on his family, coupled with the emotional toll of uncertainty. 

Community members often rally around victims, but the lack of resources can lead to financial burdens. "In a place where every penny counts, medical bills can cripple a family," Dr. Mwenda noted, highlighting the need for improved healthcare support and access to antivenom.

Efforts to combat the issue are underway. Local NGOs and health organizations are working to provide education on snakebite prevention, first aid, and the importance of timely medical interventions. Workshops and community outreach programs are being initiated to teach safe farming practices and how to identify potentially dangerous snakes.

Moreover, there have been calls for the Kenyan government to bolster anti-venom supplies and ensure that healthcare facilities are better equipped to handle snakebite emergencies. "Antivenom is critical, and we need to ensure it's available within a reachable distance for everyone," emphasized Dr. Mwenda.

As I concluded my interview with Ngoya, he emphasized the importance of awareness and preparation. "I've learned to be more cautious. I tell my neighbors to wear boots even when it’s hot. We need to protect ourselves." His resilience stands as a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure adversity.

In Makueni County, the fight against the silent menace of snake bites continues, as communities come together to educate, support, and heal. It is a stark reminder that in the beautiful wildness of the Ukambani region, vigilance and knowledge are just as vital as the lifeblood of the land itself.

Speaking during the ACK Diocese of Embu Education Sunday at St. Anne's Kiriari Girls Secondary School, Mundigi emphasized that the empowerment initiative was intended to stimulate economic growth among small enterprises and uplift disadvantaged individuals at the grassroots level.

He likened the program to other government development projects aimed at expanding the nation’s wealth through inclusive development for all citizens.

The senator further claimed that those opposing the empowerment efforts are leaders who prefer keeping the public economically vulnerable in order to exploit them for political gain.

He also extended an invitation to President William Ruto and Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki to continue rolling out the empowerment programs in Embu, highlighting the potential benefits for youth and women groups who rely on such financial support to grow their businesses.

He dismissed the so-called “cousins” narrative popularized by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his allies as outdated and dangerous. The narrative, which seeks to pit different  communities as political relatives with special claims to power, has drawn sharp criticism for sidelining other communities and fanning ethnic tensions. “We are not cousins competing for an inheritance. We are one nation working towards a shared prosperity. This political balcanization should stop,” Ruku said.

Speaking during the ACK Diocese of Embu’s Education Sunday at St. Anne’s Kiriari Girls’ Secondary School, Ruku slammed the opposition for what he termed as “reckless tribal talk,” accusing them of using identity politics to lure locals in tribal lines.

Ruku went on to highlight the Kenya Kwanza government’s focus on economic transformation, citing concrete examples of gains made under President William Ruto’s leadership. He noted that farmers are now receiving higher payouts than ever before stating that coffee farmers are earning up to KSh 100 per kilogram, tea returns have surpassed KSh 210 billion, and milk prices have risen from KSh 37 to KSh 50 per litre.

“These are not promises. They are results,” Ruku said. He attributed the success to government reforms like the digitization of payments, the elimination of middlemen, and the introduction of minimum price guarantees through the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund (CCARF), which has already disbursed over KSh 6.7 billion to nearly 500,000 farmers.

Turning to the education sector, the Cabinet Secretary praised the Church’s longstanding contribution, especially in supporting children from disadvantaged families. “The role of the Church in shaping values and expanding access to education cannot be overstated,” Ruku noted. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring every child regardless of background accesses quality education.

Supporting his message were several Kenya Kwanza-aligned lawmakers, including Mary Wa Maua (Maragua MP), Jane Karigi (Laikipia Woman Rep), and James Githua (Kabete MP). They reassured parents and school heads that Parliament had set aside adequate funds for capitation and national exams, saying there is no cause for alarm over school finances.

Ruku was also accompanied by TVET Principal Secretary Dr Esther Mworia and TSC Chairperson Dr Jamleck Muturi.

During the emotional  farewell at which tears flowed freely among  family members and mourners, Nzengu said he had lost a loyal worker and an achiever  adding that he was a performer par excellence.

Mwiyei  who was a Clergyman with the AEPC Church, succumbed to bravely borne prostate cancer. He visited many hospitals both within and without Kenya. He is survived by widow Winrose Kavengi  and four sons.

Nzengu told the mourners who had thronged Mbauni village in Itivanzou village of Kyuso district, Mwingi North sub county that Mwiyei was many times better than a previous holder of the CDF office chairmanship.

“Before he took over office, I had another person who abused my generosity. I endured two and half years of a very difficult period dealing with a man I helped get the chairman but he abused my generosity,” lamented Nzengu.

The MP said although he had a hand in the man’s appointment, he did not recognise him and even bragged that he had been hired by the CDF national board. He only found peace after Mwiyei took over, he said.

“One wonders how the NG-CDF board nestled in Nairobi would have learned about a man living deep in the rural village were it not for my identifying him,” said the legislator.

He however observed that the about four to five years that the late Mwiyei had served as the Mwingi North NG-CDF  had been the best as his sense of duty made things move seamlessly.

Speaking during the ceremony that was presided over by the moderator of the AEPC Church in Kenya  Dr. Joseph Mitei the MCA for Tharaka ward in Mwingi North, Muthengi Ndangara, said as the chairman  of the NG-CDF, Mwiyei  left an indelible mark among the population.

“Mwiyei was a clear testimony that one does not have to hold a very high office to make a positive impact or facilitate great achievements in society,” said Ndangara.

“When he worked as an education officer in Tseikuru I was a young secondary school lad but I used to admire his devotion to duty and service. He blended his seriousness and commitment with a sense of humor though,” he added.

The MCA for Tseikuru, Kimanzi Muange, told the family of the late Mwiyei that due to his good deeds when he was alive, his memory  would linger  for long.

“I want to tell his family  that he was a great man whose song may have ended but the melody would linger forever,” he said metaphorically.