By Victor Vosoro
The principal of Rigoma Girls’ Secondary School in Masaba North Sub-county, Alice Onywoki, has taken the extraordinary step of spending nights with her students after surviving a chilling attack at her residence within the school compound.
The incident, which occurred while she was asleep, saw unknown individuals shatter the windows of her bedroom and lock her house from the outside, leaving her trapped and fearing for her life.
Speaking during a prize-giving ceremony on Thursday to honour top-performing students, Onywoki recounted the terrifying events of the night she now describes as an attempt to intimidate her leadership. The incident follows the circulation of anonymous leaflets near the school compound criticizing her leadership, fueling speculation that the attack may have been internally orchestrated.
“As I tried to run, I discovered the door had been locked from outside,” Onywoki said. “I had to call students from a nearby dormitory to alert the school watchmen, who were seemingly unaware of what was happening.”
In the aftermath of the incident, Onywoki made the difficult decision to relocate to a dormitory, choosing to sleep among students for her own safety.
The attack has sparked outrage from local leaders, parents, and fellow educators, who are demanding swift action from authorities. They have condemned the intimidation and urged security agencies to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators.
“We are all under threat,” said Samson Getamo, the Masaba North Chairman of the Kenya Secondary Schools’ Heads Association. “We will push for justice for our colleague because if this can happen to her, it can happen to any school head.”
Onywoki has formally appealed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to fast-track investigations into the incident and ensure those responsible are brought to book.
The incident adds to growing concerns over the safety of school administrators, particularly in rural areas where cases of intimidation linked to leadership wrangles and school management disputes have been reported in recent years.
As police continue their investigations, the Rigoma Girls’ community remains on edge, with parents and teachers calling for enhanced security measures to protect both staff and students.
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