Loreto Day Secondary School was on Wednesday closed after fears of devil worship gripped the school.

More than 350 students were sent home by the deputy head teacher following rising tension and anxiety.

The closure caused tension in the neighbouring Loreto-Matunda Secondary School.

The Uasin Gishu District Education Officer, Mr Julius Bissem, said the school was closed to ease tension "after it seemed it was not at peace following claims that some students were engaged in devil worship".

Form One students are expected to report back next Monday, Form Twos on Tuesday and Form Threes on Wednesday in the company of their parents, the DEO said by telephone.

In herletter ordering the students to go home the headmistress, Ms Margaret Chege, said the students are also required to clear fees arrears by the time the report back.

Only Form Four candidates now preparing for the Kenya Secondary of Education examinations were spared.

Students interviewed in Eldoret town said the problems at the school started when the school re-opened this term.

They said they had been were angered by the re-admission of some Form Three students suspended over alleged devil worship.

"Since we came back, ghosts have been visiting our school making students develop mysterious diseases and more than 100 than have been admitted in hospitals," one of the students claimed.

Last week, a self-proclaimed prophetess resident near the school allegedly predicted that a fire would destroy a school building, worsening the explosive situation.

A student said on Tuesday during evening prayers one of them had claimed that the school was "being protected against the Holy Spirit by an angel Rael".

A student suspected of being a devil worshipper was accused of going round whipping other students at night.

The Eldoret Catholic Diocese vicar-general, Fr Francis Moriasi, whose church sponsors the school, promised to investigate.

The problem in the schoolcomes barely a week after the Wangai Report cited devil worship as one of the causes of student unrest in schools.

• Story originally published by:
The Nation, Nairobi / Kenya | Lucas Barasa - Oct 05.01

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