Six Form Two Pupils, All Aged 16, Injured After Harsh Punishment by Swahili Teacher
By George Misati
Six Form Two pupils from AIC Songoliet High School, all aged 16, have been left with serious leg injuries following a severe punishment by their Swahili teacher, Liz Mwikali.
The students, accompanied by their parents, received medical treatment at Chepkigen Hospital in Kesses Constituency after the incident. Unable to stand for long periods due to bruised knees, the students revealed that Mwikali had forced them to walk on their knees over sharp stones as punishment for failing to answer a question correctly in class.
“She made us kneel on rocks and walk. It hurt so much, and now we can hardly walk,” said one of the pupils, still in visible pain.
Parents, shocked by the severity of the punishment, condemned the actions of the teacher. “No child should be subjected to such cruelty. There are far better ways to discipline students without inflicting harm,” one parent said during the protest.
Dan Sanches, a father of one of the injured pupils, expressed anger after a meeting with the school’s headteacher, Paul Maritim, seeking clarity on how the situation had escalated to this extent. “The headteacher’s response was dismissive. He didn’t seem concerned about what had happened to our children,” Sanches said bitterly.
Human rights activist Kimutai Kirui has since called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to take disciplinary action against both the Swahili teacher and the headteacher. “This is a gross violation of the students’ rights. The authorities must intervene and ensure those responsible are held to account,” said Kirui.
Efforts to obtain a statement from the headteacher were unsuccessful as he refused to comment on the matter. Reports indicate that other Form Two students at the school are also nursing similar injuries from previous incidents.
The parents have since filed a report at Cheptiret Police Station. A police officer confirmed that cases of student injuries due to harsh punishment have been on the rise, with Cheplaskei Primary School also being cited in a recent case.
Entrance Signpost of Songoliet Secondary School, Where Six Pupils Were Injured Following Alleged Punishment by a Teacher
As the parents continue to bear the cost of their children’s medical care, they are calling for swift justice and appropriate action to be taken against those responsible.
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