Students need spiritual guidance to stem unrest – DP Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto has called on religious leaders to offer spiritual guidance to school going children in an effort to stem the growing tide of school unrest facing the country.

Speaking during a church service AIC Kapkeben as he joined worshippers today (Sunday), the deputy president said it was the responsibility of every Kenyan to ensure that children don’t take part in activities that jeopardise their education and lead to wanton destruction of school property.

“We would like to ask our religious fraternity to make sure the spiritual needs of children are catered for so that their moral standing can be challenged by spiritual leadership,” he said.

The DP’s sentiments come at a time when the country’s education sector has been hit by a wave of student unrest that has seen property of an unknown value destroyed and many schools closed following school fires and strikes.

Tens of students have been arrested with several being arraigned in connection with school unrest while scores more have been sent home following destruction of key infrastructure in their schools since the unrest began.

Various theories have been fronted to explain the unrest and the government has constituted an eight-member task force with membership drawn from two ministries get to the bottom of the issue.

“The report should clearly outline measures to be taken to forestall future cases of unrest and also spell out individuals/parties that will be held responsible for the school fires, including through prosecution and surcharging of suspects,” read a statement signed by Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang’i (Education) and Joseph Nkaissery (Interior).