NYAMIRA, KENYA – An urgent search is underway for two Sironga High School students who mysteriously disappeared from their school on Saturday, October 25, 2025, just days before they were scheduled to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. The Form Four candidates, identified as Herly Atieno and Ashenance Akinyi Onyango, remain missing, prompting profound distress among their families and raising serious questions about the safety protocols within one of Nyamira County's prominent national schools.

The families were notified by the school administration on the morning of October 25th, inquiring if the girls had returned home. Herly Atieno’s mother, Ms. Noel Barasa, reported last seeing her daughter on October 17th and had sent her pocket money the day before she vanished. “I am yet to receive any detailed information about my daughter's disappearance. How safe are our schools when the teachers cannot account for our children?” Ms. Barasa stated, expressing her frustration.

Similarly, Ashenance Akinyi’s father, Mr. Eric Onyango, was shocked to receive a call from the school asking about his daughter's whereabouts, having believed she was safe and preparing for her final exams. The two students were reportedly close friends and classmates. According to their parents, the school informed them that the matter was reported to the police on Sunday, October 26, 2025.

Official Silence and Lingering Questions

Despite the gravity of the situation, official channels have remained conspicuously quiet. As of Thursday, October 30, 2025, neither the Nyamira County Police Command, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), nor the Ministry of Education have issued a public statement regarding the students' disappearance or the status of the investigation. When contacted for comment, Sironga High School Principal Jane Nyanumba stated that the police were handling the case and she would only address the matter after the conclusion of the KCSE exams. This official silence has intensified the families' anxiety and fueled concerns from child safety advocates.

The parents have questioned the effectiveness of the school's security infrastructure, which reportedly includes CCTV cameras and watchmen. The incident has also brought renewed scrutiny to the school's recent history with student welfare. In September 2024, the school community was shaken by the tragic suicide of a Form Four student. More recently, in November 2024, the DCI launched an investigation into an alleged assault where a Ministry of Education official was accused of repeatedly slapping a KCSE candidate at the school.

A National Concern

The disappearance of the Sironga students is not an isolated event but reflects a broader, deeply troubling trend across Kenya. According to data from the Child Protection Information Management System, over 8,800 children were reported missing in 2024 alone, with only a small fraction successfully reunited with their families. In the 2023/2024 financial year, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection reported that over 7,058 children had gone missing since June 2023. These alarming statistics highlight systemic challenges in ensuring child safety.

The pressure of national examinations has often been cited as a contributing factor to student distress. While the circumstances leading to the disappearance of Herly and Ashenance remain unknown, reports indicate the two girls were among 37 students who had recently been suspended for possessing mobile phones, a detail that may form part of the ongoing police investigation. Ms. Barasa recalled a recent conversation where her daughter sought forgiveness for the suspension.

As the KCSE examinations proceed nationwide, the disappearance of two candidates serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities students face. The families, and the wider Kenyan public, await answers and demand accountability, hoping for the safe and swift return of Herly Atieno and Ashenance Akinyi Onyango. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.