Teacher, Watchman Flee After Machogu’s Arrests Orders for Cruel Punishment on Students
On April 12, two individuals, a teacher and a watchman, fled after receiving orders from Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to arrest them for their involvement in a brutal student punishment that resulted in a 19-year-old student losing a testicle in Kisii County, Kenya.
Machogu emphasized that these teachers should be treated as criminals and prosecuted in court for their actions, stating that it was no longer an educational matter, but a criminal one.
In collaboration with Kisii County Police Commander Charles Kases, three more suspects connected to the incident were arrested and are scheduled to appear in court on April 13. The police boss confirmed that all three arrested individuals were employed by the same board as the teacher and watchman who had fled.
Machogu further stated that the Ministry of Education would abide by Article 29 of the Constitution, which prohibits corporal punishment, torture, or cruel punishment.
The victim, who was hospitalized after the incident, recounted the tragic ordeal, revealing that the teachers had ganged up on him and continued to beat him even after he started bleeding. As a result, one of his testicles had to be surgically removed.
“They took me to the staff room, tossed me to the ground several times before they tied me up and started beating me for about two hours,” he narrated.
Cases of corporal punishment in Kisii and Nyamira counties have been recently reported, drawing condemnation from parents and other stakeholders. Another incident in Nyamira County involved a class eight pupil who also lost a testicle after being brutally beaten by teachers.
Machogu concluded by stating that teachers should not inflict serious injuries on students that would leave lasting physical and psychological impacts. He emphasized that corporal punishment was unacceptable and that those responsible should face the full force of the law, including dismissal from service.
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with law enforcement authorities, is taking a strong stance against corporal punishment in schools and is determined to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
The incidents in Kisii and Nyamira counties serve as a stark reminder that such practices are illegal and have serious consequences. The protection of students’ rights and well-being is a top priority for the Ministry, and efforts will continue to be made to eradicate corporal punishment from the education system in Kenya.
Teacher, Watchman Flee After Machogu’s Arrests Orders for Cruel Punishment on Students
