This archive report was first published on 10 January 2020.
On January 10, 2020, Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha issued a stern warning to parents and the public in Kakamega County, Kenya.
Magoha emphasized that anyone caught threatening or intimidating teachers in the country due to poor examination results will face punishment.
He pointed out that it's absurd to put the entire blame on teachers in the event of poor results in a school, and that parents have a significant role to play in ensuring children perform well in examinations.
Magoha referenced the tragic incident in Kitui County, where a female teacher was attacked and killed by people believed to be parents following her school's poor performance in the 2019 KCPE exam.
He stressed that the security of all teachers is paramount and such heinous acts cannot be condoned.
Magoha also appealed to Governors and legislators to set aside funds to support children from humble families to access education, emphasizing that all children have a right to education and none should be denied this right.
Separately, a government multi-agency team assisted in bringing back 10 Kenyan seafarers who were abandoned in the sea near Mozambique.
The seafarers sought rescue after their employer abandoned them when their ship ran out of fuel with no lighting and no provisions on board, including fresh water.
The Kenya Maritime Director General, Maj (Rtd) George Nyamoko Okong'o, reported the issue to the Mozambique port control and noted that the ship owner had not signed the seafarer's employment agreements with the Kenyan crew as required by the law.
Seafarers have been cautioned against accepting recruitment by agents not licensed by the Kenya Maritime Authority, as this exposes them to the infringement of their rights and freedoms.
