Family Seeks Justice After Student Beaten by Teachers in Kirinyaga

A secondary school in Mwea Constituency, Kirinyaga County is at the centre of disturbing allegations after a Form Four student was reportedly subjected to severe corporal punishment by three teachers, raising concerns about the use of excessive force in school discipline. Ngurubani Secondary School under fire after a student was allegedly caned by teachers for using a staff washroom. The student’s family claims she was assaulted in the staffroom by two female teachers and a male colleague using open palms and horse pipes, leaving her with visible injuries on her back. The alleged incident occurred at Ngurubani Secondary School, a public mixed-day institution that operates at the county level in Mwea East sub-county where the ordeal is said to have unfolded  during the school’s end-term examinations, when candidates were reportedly barred from leaving the examination hall, even for washroom breaks According to the family, the student, who was experiencing discomfort after the exams, proceeded to use the washroom located within the teachers’ section of the school. It was at this point that a laboratory technician allegedly spotted her and escorted her to the staffroom. Inside the staffroom, three teachers, two female and one male, are said to have ordered her to kneel before launching a physical assault. They allegedly slapped her and struck her back with horse pipes while accusing her of indiscipline. The teachers reportedly berated her, suggesting that her actions could expose them to health risks. The student's mother is said to have confronted the school administration the following morning, only to be met with a verbal apology from the principal, who reportedly downplayed the incident. By this time, the student's back had allegedly swollen due to the beating. "Hi Nyakundi. On Tuesday, my Form Four sister was severely beaten in school by three teachers—two women and one man. They were sitting for their end-term exams and had been instructed not to leave the examination hall, even for washroom breaks. After completing her papers, she was feeling extremely pressed and decided to use the teachers’ washrooms. A lab technician spotted her and took her to the staffroom, where she was ordered to kneel in front of the teachers. They then started slapping her and hitting her back with horse pipes while accusing her of spreading infections and calling her a thief, among other insults. On Wednesday morning, my mother went to the school, but the principal only offered an apology on behalf of the teachers. By then, my sister’s back was already swollen. Later that evening, my mother and sister went to report the matter at the police station, but the senior officer dismissed them, saying, “If you do not want your child to be disciplined, that is your problem. Come back tomorrow to see the OCS.” They were not even issued an OB number. I had no other option, so on Thursday night, I shared the incident on my WhatsApp and Facebook timelines. The post was widely shared and eventually reached the school. On Friday morning, the school’s parent chairman came to our home to speak with my parents. He later accompanied my mother to the school for a meeting, but it was unproductive as the principal was absent. That evening, I travelled home and attended another meeting, which included my father, mother, the principal, and other school representatives. However, the three teachers involved were not present. The resolution from the meeting was that my sister would be taken for a back scan to assess any potential long-term injuries, after which I would delete my posts from social media. At around 6 p.m., the principal and another woman took my sister to Kimbimbi, a government hospital. When they arrived, the principal asked my sister to step out of the room before speaking privately with the doctor. We all understand what that means. She was later examined, but when they brought her back home at around 10 p.m., they had no medical report, no written evidence, not even a simple hospital note. When I asked about it, the principal told me, “We are not here for a case,” and they left. This morning, I wanted to take the matter further because I have not seen my sister’s scan results, and I fear her back could develop complications later. However, my father told me to drop it because she was taken to a public hospital, and I have no evidence of what happened there. But how do I just let this go? What is someone supposed to do in such a case? The school is Ngurubani Secondary School in Mwea East, and the teachers involved are Miss Omondi, Mrs Machocho, and Mr Murimi."