Three public schools in Kisumu are appealing for urgent government intervention after the demolition of their perimeter walls left thousands of learners exposed to security risks, theft and traffic dangers.
The affected institutions are Arya Primary and Junior School, MM Shah Primary and Junior School, and Lake Primary and Junior School.
The schools say sections of their fences were demolished by the Kisumu County Government in April 2026 to make way for a road bypass linking to the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway through the city’s central business district.
School administrators say they received no prior notice before the demolition, leaving the institutions vulnerable and without adequate security.
At Arya Primary and Junior School, which has more than 3,000 learners, Head of Institution Felix Ouma said the school supported the road project because it would improve access for residents.
However, he said the loss of the perimeter wall had created significant safety concerns.”Our major problem after the opening of the road is that it has overexposed the school,” he said.
He said pupils can now easily wander onto the busy road, particularly during break time and sporting activities, making supervision more difficult for teachers.
Mr Ouma cited a recent sports event at neighbouring Lake Primary and Junior School, where teachers struggled to stop children crossing the road to watch matches.
“We had a hectic time controlling children who were eager to cross to the other side. At the same time, we had to control motorists to ensure no child was knocked down,” he said.
The demolished section also borders the school’s sanitation facilities, exposing children using the area, while the open compound has heightened fears of burglary.
“It is even worse at night because the school is exposed. Burglars can easily access the school and steal stationery and other learning materials,” Mr Ouma said.
He appealed to both the national and county governments, as well as the Kisumu Central Constituency Development Fund (CDF), to help rebuild the wall.
“We need the wall constructed soon enough so that we can secure our children and protect school property.”
At MM Shah Primary and Junior School, Head of Institution Michael Oriedi said more than 200 metres of the school’s perimeter fence was demolished without prior notice.
The school has since resorted to temporary measures to secure the compound.
“We are looking into temporary solutions to secure the school and the children. We are highly prone to burglary and even the safety of children is at risk,” he said.
But it is at neighbouring Lake Primary and Junior School where the consequences of the exposed perimeter have been felt most acutely.
Head of Institution Dr Pamela Otieno said the school had become increasingly vulnerable to theft, vandalism and violent crime since its fence was removed during construction of the road.
The school sought support from the Kisumu Central CDF to rebuild the perimeter wall, but the project has yet to begin.
“We have been making follow-ups, and they keep telling us the project is in the process as they finalise logistics,” she said.
Officials had advised the school that construction of a permanent wall would have to wait until the next financial year, prompting the institution to settle for a temporary chain-link fence.
Dr Otieno said the barrier offers little protection.”Our school has become porous. Anybody can come in because the temporary fence can easily be cut,” she said.
The school’s security fears escalated after two watchmen were killed during a night-time attack.
Dr Otieno said armed intruders entered the school at about 1 am, overpowering the guards. “Their bodies were discovered the following morning by a member of staff collecting tools from the school’s amusement park ,” she recalled.
The school immediately alerted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), whose officers operate from within the school compound, before police from Kisumu Central Police Station launched investigations.
Dr Otieno believes the exposed perimeter has made it easier for criminals to access the school.”It is very easy to cut the fence and enter the school,” she said.
She said intruders frequently steal water taps, vandalise windows and attempt to break into classrooms.”We have lost so many taps.
They vandalise windows trying to gain access to classrooms to steal,” Dr Otieno said. She also expressed concern about the safety of pupils who report to school early each morning.
“The security of the learners is not very good because they report to school very early, and you may not know who has already entered the compound and is waiting,” she said.
The school has also raised concerns over roadside kiosks erected outside its gates, saying they create additional security challenges.
Following a complaint, county enforcement officers ordered the structures removed.Lake Primary and Junior School has about 1,126 learners.
The heads of the three schools are now urging both levels of government and education stakeholders to prioritise the reconstruction of the perimeter walls.
They warned that further delays could expose learners to greater danger, increase crime and undermine the safety of the learning environment.
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