The Kakuyuni Boys Secondary School community in Malindi Sub County, Kilifi County, has called for the immediate transfer of the school principal, Rev. Alphonse Kaingu, citing allegations of mismanagement and declining academic performance.
Parents, students, and local leaders accused the principal of overseeing the deterioration of what was once a thriving institution. They claimed that the student population had plummeted from 800 when he joined the school to the current 285.
The parents and local Member of Parliament Amina Mnyazi accused the principal of poor leadership and demanded immediate action.
They were speaking during a highly charged meeting attended by Sub-County Director of Education, Rashid Roba Adan, Sub County TSC Director Jane Jinnah, Sub County TSC Human Resource Officer Josephine Bosibori, and Malindi Divisional Assistant County Commissioner Irene Munyoki
Amid rowdy chants of aende, aende (let him go! let him go!), Mr. Samuel Katsole, one of the parents, said the school’s performance had been affected by poor handling of students’ disciplinary actions, noting that many students were frequently sent away over petty offences.
He claimed that day scholars were the most affected by the frivolous disciplinary actions, making it hard for any of them to score a mean grade of C (plain). The borders were not spared by the mismanagement either as they were not being supervised to study during weekends, he noted.
Ms Mnyazi stated that numerous grievances had been levelled against the principal and called for investigations into his conduct and a possible transfer.
She noted that about 60 students recently marched to her office to complain about the school head. Some parents also visited her office a few days later over similar grievances.
Ms Mnyazi, who had visited the school to hand over a Sh2 million donation from President William Ruto, said she had written a letter to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to officially complain against the principal and to demand investigations and a possible transfer.
The MP criticized Mr. Kaingu for allegedly delaying the distribution of the President’s promised funds to the students. She alleged that the principal and a section of the school’s board of management had considered diverting the money to a school project, despite the funds being earmarked for the students’ welfare.
“When the President visited the school last year, I urged him to give the students who had endured the blazing sun to welcome him some lunch. He pledged Sh2 million, and while the funds were delivered, the principal has since created unnecessary delays,” Ms. Mnyazi said.
She directed that the funds be allocated to student fees, ensuring each learner receives Sh7,000, which will be credited to their fee accounts starting Tuesday, and copies of receipts sent to her office.
The MP further expressed concern over the school’s declining academic performance, backing the community’s calls for the principal’s transfer.
“From what I’ve gathered, this school was once one of the top-performing institutions in Malindi Constituency. Now, its performance has significantly dropped. If the school community is unhappy with the principal’s leadership, a transfer must be considered,” she added.
Mr. Adan and Malindi Assistant County Commissioner Irene Munyoki pledged to address the concerns raised but emphasized the need for collaboration between students, parents, and teachers to improve the school’s performance.
Rev. Kaingu did not respond to the allegations but sat calmly, recording the proceedings with his mobile phone as the highly charged meeting progressed.
Meanwhile, students expressed mixed reactions when speaking to journalists. While some supported the calls for their principal’s transfer, others defended him, citing positive contributions he had made during his tenure.
In a belated rejoinder, the principal defended himself from the accusations, saying he was a victim of a witch hunt following his refusal to allow officials from the MP’s office to take some of the money given by the President.
Rev. Kaingu said the officials had wanted to release Sh1.5 million to the school and retain Sh500,000, which he had refused, leading to the clamour to have him transferred.
By Emmanuel Masha and Baraka Mweni
