In yet another loss, Namunyu primary lost 46 laptops. Headmaster Stephen Musungu said they were stolen from his office at night on April 10. “I had travelled to Eldoret when the thieves broke in. The loss of the laptops has disorganised our digital learning programme. We are in the dark. We have no idea what to do with the children who want to learn,” he said. In the four reported theft cases, watchmen have been prime suspects. All of them were arrested. Immediately the laptops got lost at Tulienge, the watchman took poison in unclear circumstances. “He was rushed to hospital, treated and arrested,” Mr Nato told School and College. His case is yet to be determined. Sarah suspects her watchman was not around when theft of laptops took place at her school. “He was arrested and jailed for two years. He is serving a two-year jail term,” says Sarah. The Mufungu watchman was also jailed for two years over the theft at the school. At Namunyu Primary, the deputy head teacher was arrested with the watchman and later released. Bungoma West Deputy County Commissioner Daniel arap Kurui blames teachers in the affected schools for carelessness. “After l visited some of the schools, l found out that it was pure carelessness. In one school, the laptops were stolen from the desks. The government insisted that these laptops be kept in a secured place,” he said. The DCC says the laptops are being sought after like hot cakes. “When thieves raided and stole laptops in my school, l was accused of being careless. That was August last year. Today, more schools continue to lose these laptops,” said Sarah. Bungoma Education Director Jacon Mong’are said the affected schools have asked for other tablets to allow them continue with digital lessons. On alert “We have to give a report to the Ministry of Education, wait for their opinion, and advise the way forward,” he said. There are rife reports that several laptops belonging to Kenyan primary schools have been trading in various parts of Uganda.

An informer who saw laptops being sold at Bumbo, Uganda, volunteered to link this reporter to a seller. “In fact, there’s busaa club at Bumbo that plays music using one of the laptops,” he said. For two days, this reporter camped at Bumbo hoping to purchase the laptop without success. The seller had mysteriously gone missing. The DJ who owns the laptop used to play music at a busaa club also disappeared, yet to return. “Looks like their suppliers have warned them to be on alert, especially now that Kenyan officers are following this matter,” said the informer. Chebukati said a teacher friend from Uganda had informed him that he had seen some people selling Kenyan laptops in Uganda.
Courtesy of The Standard 

In yet another loss, Namunyu primary lost 46 laptops. Headmaster Stephen Musungu said they were stolen from his office at night on April 10. “I had travelled to Eldoret when the thieves broke in. The loss of the laptops has disorganised our digital learning programme. We are in the dark. We have no idea what to do with the children who want to learn,” he said. In the four reported theft cases, watchmen have been prime suspects. All of them were arrested. Immediately the laptops got lost at Tulienge, the watchman took poison in unclear circumstances. “He was rushed to hospital, treated and arrested,” Mr Nato told School and College. His case is yet to be determined. Sarah suspects her watchman was not around when theft of laptops took place at her school. “He was arrested and jailed for two years. He is serving a two-year jail term,” says Sarah. The Mufungu watchman was also jailed for two years over the theft at the school. At Namunyu Primary, the deputy head teacher was arrested with the watchman and later released. Bungoma West Deputy County Commissioner Daniel arap Kurui blames teachers in the affected schools for carelessness. “After l visited some of the schools, l found out that it was pure carelessness. In one school, the laptops were stolen from the desks. The government insisted that these laptops be kept in a secured place,” he said. The DCC says the laptops are being sought after like hot cakes. “When thieves raided and stole laptops in my school, l was accused of being careless. That was August last year. Today, more schools continue to lose these laptops,” said Sarah. Bungoma Education Director Jacon Mong’are said the affected schools have asked for other tablets to allow them continue with digital lessons. On alert “We have to give a report to the Ministry of Education, wait for their opinion, and advise the way forward,” he said. There are rife reports that several laptops belonging to Kenyan primary schools have been trading in various parts of Uganda.

An informer who saw laptops being sold at Bumbo, Uganda, volunteered to link this reporter to a seller. “In fact, there’s busaa club at Bumbo that plays music using one of the laptops,” he said. For two days, this reporter camped at Bumbo hoping to purchase the laptop without success. The seller had mysteriously gone missing. The DJ who owns the laptop used to play music at a busaa club also disappeared, yet to return. “Looks like their suppliers have warned them to be on alert, especially now that Kenyan officers are following this matter,” said the informer. Chebukati said a teacher friend from Uganda had informed him that he had seen some people selling Kenyan laptops in Uganda.
Courtesy of The Standard