By Our Reporter
The disappearance of a 16-year-old student from Murang’a County has ignited concern over how schools handle disciplinary cases involving minors, with many questioning whether students should ever be sent home without a parent or guardian present.
Yvonne Wanjiru, a Form Two student at St. Charles Lwanga High School, has been missing since the beginning of July after she was reportedly sent away from school over claims that she had dyed her hair and violated the school’s dress code by wearing a short skirt.
According to her family, Yvonne had returned to school on June 30, 2025, after the midterm break. However, the following day, school administrators allegedly dismissed her over the alleged dress code violations.
Her mother says she had contacted the school and requested that the administration wait until she could come and discuss the matter before any decision was made. She claims that by the time her message reached the school, Yvonne had already left the compound alone.
The family believes the school should not have allowed a minor to leave without first ensuring she was safely handed over to a parent or guardian. Since that day, Yvonne has not been seen, leaving her loved ones searching desperately for answers.
The case is now under active investigation. Murang’a County Police Commander Cleti Kimaiyo confirmed that detectives have questioned an individual believed to have recently communicated with the teenager, but the interview did not provide any information about her whereabouts.
Police have also searched hospitals and mortuaries while extending investigations to neighbouring counties and major transport hubs as efforts to trace the missing student continue.
As the search enters its second week, Yvonne’s mother continues to appeal to the public for help, expressing hope that her daughter is still alive and will return home safely.
The incident has also sparked a broader public debate over student welfare and whether schools need stricter protocols when sending minors home for disciplinary reasons. Education stakeholders and parents are increasingly calling for policies that require schools to notify parents and ensure students are safely released into the care of a responsible adult.
Anyone with information that could assist in locating Yvonne Wanjiru is urged to report it to the nearest police station or contact the relevant authorities. Investigators say even the smallest piece of information could prove vital in bringing the teenager home safely.
