Sexual harassment claims have emerged after 110 girls at Silanga Secondary School in Ol Kalou fled while screaming yesterday morning.

Principal Peter Macharia has denied the allegation, terming it malicious.

The students, who are boarders, left at about 4am when morning studies begin. A teacher who did not want to be named said he and the matron noticed something was amiss when they went to the dormitory to ensure all students were up for studies.

The mixed day and boarding school, located along the Ol Kalou-Nakuru road, has 280 students. There are 80 boys and 200 girls, 110 of whom are boarders.

The boarders begin their studies at 4am.

“We found them ready for class at about 3.55am. They moved in a group and entered the Form Four classroom where they briefly locked themselves," the teacher said.

The students left the room screaming as they headed towards Silanga Dam through the fence.

"Some were shouting mock while others just screamed," he said. The two informed the principal. Macharia said he suspects the students fled for fear of mock exams.

"Everything was normal and this has caught us by surprise," Macharia said. Only Form Four students sit mock exams and Macharia said he could not explain why those in other classes left.

An urgent meeting of the board of management was called as investigations into the incident were launched.

Fears of possible drowning emerged after some shoes believed to belong to the girls were seen floating in the overflowing dam.

“Some could even break their legs because it was dark. We're holding our breath as we pray to God to protect them," Macharia said.

There were reports some girls were seen at Rurii shopping centre, about 10km from the school. Most of them were muddy, barefoot and in tracksuits and nightdresses.

Two girls, said to be from Kinangop, were found stranded at Passenga and taken back to school by a Good Samaritan.

It was also said that some boys had gone to the school prior to the incident. The administration was not willing to discuss the allegation.

A group of about 10 boys walked into the school at about 9am and were whisked away and locked up in a room.

Some looked shaggy. The administration declined to talk about them.

A resident who lives near the school told the Star that sexual harassment could not be ruled out. Macharia said the allegation was ridiculous and malicious.

“That is news to me. I have heard it from you," he told reporters.

Parents have called a thorough probe even as they defended the management.

“We want to know what happened," said Catherine Mwaura, a parent of a Form Three student.

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