Highridge Girls School in Parklands is facing scrutiny over its handling of an alleged rape incident involving a 15-year-old student and her Biology teacher, Hillary Okeyo Moses.
According to the victim's mother, who spoke to Nairobi News, the teacher allegedly assaulted the student in a toilet on Wednesday evening last week. The school's administration was initially reluctant to report the incident to the police.
The victim's mother stated that her daughter was ordered to leave class during evening preps and wait for the teacher in the staff room. However, on her way there, the teacher allegedly grabbed and assaulted her in the boys' latrine area.
The student was reportedly threatened by the teacher not to disclose the incident. When she returned to class crying, she informed her classmates, and by Thursday morning, the school's head teacher was aware of what had happened.
Despite this, the school only took action after students staged a protest and refused to attend classes, demanding the arrest of the Biology teacher. The school eventually took the victim for a medical examination at Nairobi Women's Hospital on Saturday afternoon.
The girl was given post-exposure prophylaxis medication for HIV, but her mother is concerned that it may not be effective since it was administered outside the recommended 72-hour window.
Gigiri OCPD, Vitalis Otieno, confirmed the arrest of Mr. Okeyo and stated that the police are investigating why the incident was not reported promptly. The teacher is set to undergo a medical examination and will be arraigned in court.
The incident has left the victim in an emotional state, with her mother considering taking action against the school for its alleged cover-up.
