Turkana County Officials Demolish Classrooms Built by Eric Omondi, Leaving Students Out in the Cold

In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, Turkana County officials in Kenya have reportedly demolished classrooms constructed by comedian and activist Eric Omondi, citing non-compliance with construction protocols.

The structures, built to alleviate the dire educational conditions in Kapoo, Turkana County, were torn down, forcing children back to studying under trees.

Omondi, known for his charitable initiatives, had launched a fundraiser earlier this month to address the plight of students learning in harsh conditions. A video he posted on Instagram in January 2025 showed children sitting on bare ground, barefoot, under the scorching sun, attempting to learn with no proper writing materials. His response was swift; through his ‘Sisi Kwa Sisi’ movement, he managed to build a classroom in just one day by January 6, 2025. The school was named Teacher Kamaret Primary School, commemorating Elizabeth Kamaret, a volunteer teacher who had been teaching these students under a tree.

The initiative also included providing uniforms, books, and shoes to the children, marking a significant improvement in their learning environment. However, this progress was undone when on Tuesday, county officials stepped in, claiming the construction lacked adherence to necessary procedures, leading to the demolition of the classroom.

The move has been met with significant backlash on social media, with many describing it as inhumane. Residents and supporters of Omondi’s initiative have called for an explanation from the county officials.

In a poignant statement, Omondi expressed his heartbreak over the demolition and the additional cruelty of confiscating the children’s uniforms and shoes, questioning the humanity of such an act. “It is very sad that they demolished the classroom we built for the kids in Turkana but it’s even WORSE that watoto walinyanganywa Uniform na Viatu…Are these people even human? How dark are your hearts?” he stated.

The incident has ignited a debate on the bureaucratic hurdles that often impede well-intentioned community development projects, especially in marginalized areas like Turkana. There’s a growing call for revising the protocols to support, rather than stifle, such initiatives.