Two Kisii High School students are in custody after they were found in possession of marijuana during a surprise search ordered by the institution's administration on opening day. One of the students had squeezed 10 rolls of bhang in a medicine wrapper while another repackaged tea bags stuffing them with marijuana. What was a routine opening day search at the school took a different turn on Tuesday after the administration sought the services of police officers and their sniffer dogs. The dogs, trained to detect narcotics, busted what would have easily found its way into the school; 10 rolls of marijuana concealed in a pack supposed to contain medicine. The owner, subdued and defeated, had a hard time explaining. The decision by the school's administration to use the dogs was likely informed by discussions at a head teachers’ conference in Mombasa that pointed out substance abuse as one of the major causes of indiscipline in schools. Fred Mogaka, the school principal, said: “We want to say that this is the way to go, even as they will be coming tutakuwa tunafanya haya, na kuna clocking in. Wazazi waangalia vijana wanafika shule saa ngapi.” The second case was that of a student who bought tea bags, emptied their contents and replaced it with bhang; had it not been for the sniffer dogs, both would have easily slipped through the teachers’ security checks. Parents who witnessed the search expressed satisfaction saying they were now certain that their children are in safe hands. Richard Ayienda said: “Drugs in school have been a menace, and if that is the only way to cap drugs and prevent them from entering into the institution, then I support it fully.” A wave of indiscipline in schools late last year, characterised mainly by arson attacks, caused nationwide concern, with parents and teachers seeking solutions to curb what was becoming an increasingly dangerous and costly turn of affairs. A week ago, secondary school heads meeting in Mombasa proposed drug testing for students among several measures to curb indiscipline in schools. The two students were isolated from the rest and are currently being held in custody before appearing in court.
