A Bungoma secondary school head-teacher is on the spot after she expelled a pregnant Form Four student who later lost her baby through miscarriage. Wendy Maraga, the principal of Bungoma Baptist Girls’ High School principal, allegedly chased away 19-year-old Form Four student, Esther Nambuye, after the school learnt the girl was pregnant.
Maraga disclosed after noticing the changes in Nambuye’s body and the bulging stomach, the school’s matrol was instructed to take her to Bungoma County Referral Hospital where doctors confirmed she was indeed five months pregnant.
“In fact they were two girls in Form Four who were pregnant. The school ‘s board agreed they stay at home until they will give birth then they can return back to school in 2020,” said Maraga.
However, while reacting to the reasons given by the school for her expulsion, Nambuye claimed immediately the school found out she was pregnant, she was expelled, after which she developed pregnancy related complications. Her guardian, auntie Grace Nambuye, took her to Bungoma County Referral Hospital where she lost the baby through miscarriage.
“I was taken to the hospital on January 24, 2019, following the heavy bleeding I was experiencing but unfortunately I lost my baby boy who passed on at only 5 months,” she narrated. Esther Nambuye at their Sinoko village home in the outskirts of Bungoma town.
Original Nambuye who hails from Sinoko village in the outskirts of Bungoma town, never revealed name of her now unborn baby’s child. She said following the miscarriage, she thought it wisely to go back to school on Monday, January 28, but was sent back home immediately by the principal.
“My efforts and those of my aunt to convince the principal hit a brick wall as she plainly refused to listen to us. She said I was a bad influence to other students,”
Nambuye fears the niece’s expulsion may force the well-wishers to terminated their help. “Yes it happened but unfortunately she lost the baby. Let her be allowed back in school to sit her KCSE. She has learnt her lesson. Leaving her out for a year will increase the trauma and anything can befall her,” the aunt pleaded.
The Baptist High School principal acknowledged that Nambuye is one of the best performers and is always among the best top ten students. Efforts to get a comment over the matter from Bungoma South and the County Education leadership, however, hit the snag.