Eldoret:Student decries sexual harassment at Cambridge Universal College!
“Last term about five students were pregnant in my class, this is happening in many institutions around”
A section of the Cambridge Universal College in Eldoret where students have decried cases of sexual harassment
A section of female students pursuing their Education at an Eldoret based College training Institution have decried increased cases of sexual harassment at the Education centre.
19 year old Nancy (not her real name) who is pursuing a course in Medical Psychology and anatomy at the Cambridge Universal College located within Eldoret Town is one of the affected students who are currently depressed after turning down several sexual advances from her teacher who has now resulted in deliberately failing her in her examinations ,
“I am depressed that the teacher has been bothering me. At first I was unable to share my ordeal with my mother, However I managed to talk to a friend who explained to my mother of the predicament” Sobbed Nancy.
At the Moment we are making arrangements to get an admission at another school where I will be able to focus on my studies and pursue my dreams to become a doctor, She added
Nancy adds that the teacher is purported to have had other illicit relations with other students in the school and who are afraid of speaking out for fear of victimization .
Hubzmedia has since visited the schools management that has promised to carry out an investigation into the allegations.
“we are not aware of the allegations, however we will need the names of the students reporting of being sexually harassed in order to commence with investigations”Said the school registrar Fredrick Omondi.
However despite the schools firm position against sexual harassment matters ,Hubzmedia established that there was no a visible displayed harassment prevention and procedure policy as at 12th Sep 2023 ,and neither were the students aware of the policy.
Hon Patrick Kimeli Chair -The Uasin Gishu County Assembly committee on Labour, Social Welfare, Gender and Children, has affirmed the mandatory requirement of a sexual harassment policy in the training institutions.
“We have advised the affected students to write a petition to the Uasin Gishu County Assembly through the clerk, the matter is a serious one it will be directed to an ad hoc committee, we will be engaging the directorate of criminal investigations over the matter” stated the Gender Committee chair.
Mr. James Ahela a media trainer with one of the leading colleges in Eldoret observes that a majority of female learners are forced to defer or terminate their learning due to early pregnancies,
“Last term about five students were pregnant in my class, this is happening in many institutions around,am concerned it is affecting the quality of education delivered to our girls,” He affirms
Many of the colleges lack a sexual harassment policy that is known to the students , the institution however have firm instructions to their trainers against illicit relations and sexual harassment towards their students .He adds
Sexual harassment is prohibited by Kenyan law under the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006.
While a majority of Universities in Kenya have a clear sexual harassment policy there is a concern that an ethos of gendered violence often expressed by sexual subjugation of girls by lecturers and trainers in Colleges continues unabated .
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