Parents with children in Isiolo Township schools have resorted to escort their children to schools over fears of an alleged prowling serial killer said to be on the loose in the town’s outskirts.
Most parents took their sons and daughters to schools while others had to wait for school buses alongside with their children.
Due to the seriousness of the threat, men who normally do not take their children to school have taken up the role from their spouses and house helps.
Yesterday, Isiolo County Director of Education Dr. Hussein Keriyow Ali asked parents not to panic since the security agencies were already alert and investigating the allegations that the suspect was seen in Mwangaza Estate.
He told parents of Mwangaza Primary to stop withdrawing children from the school after rumours circulated that the suspect was spotted around the institution.
Media reports indicated that the culprit, a businessman, had killed one person and six were injured when he went berserk and drove his car into a crowd at Muriri market in Meru County and later fled towards Isiolo on a motorbike.
The parents started picking their children before the County Director of Education Dr. Ali arrived at the school and ordered that only Grade one to three pupils could be allowed to go home.
A parent, Jane Kendi called for deployment of police officers at the school to beef up security for teachers and the learners.
“We would rather stay with our children at home until their security is guaranteed,” she said.
The parents lamented that their children were not allowed to go home for lunch break yet the school does not have a feeding programme.
“It is unfortunate that they have prevented the pupils from going home with us. It is torturous to us and our children. We are going to camp here until 4.00 pm,” a parent, Ms. Mary Kanini yesterday.
By Abduba Mamo
