By Wasike Elvis
Embattled Kapsaos Secondary School principal, Mrs. Benina Soi, has officially handed over her duties following her transfer to United Soy Secondary School in Londiani. This comes just weeks after serious allegations emerged accusing her of installing covert audio surveillance equipment in the school’s staffroom without the consent of teachers or key stakeholders.
The handover took place on Monday in a brief and tense ceremony attended by school administrators, Board of Management representatives, and officials from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Mrs. Soi did not address the media, and sources close to the event said the ceremony was kept low-key in light of the ongoing investigations.
Her departure follows mounting pressure from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Uasin Gishu County branch, which condemned the installation of the surveillance system as a violation of teachers’ constitutional right to privacy under Article 31 of the Kenyan Constitution.
KUPPET officials had also raised red flags over the procurement process used to install the equipment, alleging that Mrs. Soi awarded the contract to her son, Mr. Albert Soin, in what they termed a conflict of interest. The union demanded an audit and refund of the money, calling for the funds to be redirected toward academic recovery initiatives.
The school's performance has reportedly suffered under Mrs. Soi's leadership, with student enrollment dropping drastically from 700 to just 150 in two years. Stakeholders have voiced growing concern over the school’s declining academic standards and reputation.
In a strongly-worded letter dated June 3, KUPPET warned of industrial action if the surveillance system was not dismantled by June 9. Sources within the school now confirm that the audio equipment has since been removed, although the Ministry of Education and the TSC have yet to issue a formal statement on the matter.
Mrs. Soi’s transfer to United Soy Secondary School is widely seen as an administrative reshuffle to defuse the situation, though critics argue that more stringent accountability measures should follow.
The TSC is expected to appoint an acting principal at Kapsaos as investigations continue. Meanwhile, KUPPET has vowed to pursue the matter to its conclusion, saying educators must be protected from unlawful surveillance and unethical leadership practices.
“We welcome the change but insist on a full probe,” said Mr. Elijah Maiyo, KUPPET’s Uasin Gishu County Secretary. “This is about justice, professionalism, and restoring dignity to our schools.”
As the dust begins to settle at Kapsaos Secondary, the school community hopes for a fresh start under new leadership focused on academic revival and ethical governance.
0 $type={facebook}:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.