Thieves break into Hillcrest Secondary School in Free Area and steal Sh180,000 worth of equipment
The gate to Hill Crest Secondary School.
On the morning of January 5, the day before schools officially reopened, the shopkeeper at Hillcrest Secondary School in Free Area made a shocking discovery. The school's supply store had been broken into and several items were missing.
A visit to the scene revealed that windows, fire extinguishers and pipes worth Sh180,000 had been stolen. These items were meant for the school's expansion project to create a more conducive learning environment for the students.
"The stolen items were crucial to improving our facilities," said Naomi Mwangi, the school's headmistress.
"We have reported the incident to the police and the two security guards who were on duty that night are being questioned as investigations continue."
Ms Mwangi highlighted the ongoing security challenges at the school, noting that the lack of a permanent perimeter wall has left it vulnerable to theft and vandalism.
The fence of Hill Crest Secondary School.
"We have experienced similar incidents where unknown persons enter the school and steal equipment, often selling the metal parts to scrap yards," she explained.
Located in a slum area, the school faces additional challenges, including drug abuse and high crime rates.
"Despite these difficulties, we strive to provide a safe haven for our students to focus on their education," said the principal.
"If anyone comes across these items being sold anywhere in Nakuru, please report it to the authorities to help us recover them," Ms Mwangi appealed.