All public primary schools in Thika West have remained closed this morning despite being the first day of re-opening schools countrywide.
The pupils have, however, turned into play at the Thika town playgrounds and streets following the teachers’ looming strike that appears to have commenced this morning.
Meanwhile, Thika branch Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary Joe Mungai Ngige has notified the area teachers to be on high alert and evade school.
The head teachers, contrary to previous times when strikes are on, have not reported to the schools either as majority of the schools gates are still locked.
Ngige told reporters on Monday from Thika town that the teachers will not resume schools if they are not allowed by the unions and called for parents to stay with their children until they are told otherwise.
However, Thika West district education officer Erastus Micheni made patrols in all the schools to make sure that any pupil that has reported was safe from any danger but found none.
Micheni said that the parents never released their children to open schools and confirmed that no public school was opened and no staff was present in the schools’ compound.
Following the incident, some private schools have recorded a low turnout of pupils despite re-opening their schools.