Matili Institute closed after students’ riot
Matili Technical Training Institute in Kimilili has been closed indefinitely after students went on a rampage demanding the withdrawal of the elevation of the institution’s deputy Wilson Oroni as the new principal after their former principal Thomas Owino passed on.
Led by the students council Chairman Douglas Siundu the students said they are a dissatisfied lot after the deputy rushed to the teachers service commission in Nairobi to be granted the letter of promotion even before their principal had even been buried terming the move as un cultural.
Siundu said they were amazed for the deputy to have introduced himself as the new principal of the institution two days after the death of their former principal prompting them to demonstrate up to the deputy county commissioner’s office to seek for the revocation of the letter.
“We are not happy how can someone hurriedly takes charge over your home two days after your death it is just unacceptable even in the African culture as we have to at least have our principal laid to rest before the succession takes over,” said Siundu
He further disclosed that Mr. Oroni has introduced new systems in the institution whereby students are supposed to clear fees in two installments of first term and second term saying parents do have different abilities in terms of raising money for school fees and the system should be a little bit flexible as it had been before.
However Kimilili Sub County Education Officer Elisha Omalla together with Kimilili deputy County Commissioner Reuben Loyotoman calmed the students promising that the issue shall be looked into together with stakeholders of the institution.
Mr. Omalla applauded the students for conducting a peaceful demonstration saying it is their right in the constitution to demonstrate peacefully saying they had to write down their memorandum to present to a panel that will be sitting to sort out the issues raised as the rest of the students go back to their homes to await the solution.
He added that the institution had been running smoothly and they have to conduct peacefully the burial of their former principal saying issues cropping up will be amicably sorted out by the relevant stakeholders of the institution and the ministry of education.
Deputy County Commissioner Loyotoman assured the students that no one will be victimized after the incident saying after the meeting which will include the students’ leadership a solution will be reached to ensure learning activities in the school resume.
