School closed after pupils beat teachers

A primary school in Samburu County has been closed after a group of pupils attacked and injured their teachers protesting against what they term as ‘humiliation by being punished by female teachers’.

Reports indicate that a group of Standard Six boys in Kirimon Primary School in Samburu, armed with clubs targeted their female teachers and when others tried to save their colleagues from the irate group, they were also roughed up.

“One of the injured female teachers was attacked by the boys after she entered Standard Six to teach in the morning. The ages of the boys suggest that they should be in high school but because they perform poorly they are still in primary school. They are morans and you know the culture behind Moranship in this community,” said one of the school’s male teachers who requested anonymity.

Confirming the incident, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Samburu branch, Raphael Leshalote, while condemning the attack, said that two female teachers were seriously injured in the altercation.

“The school will remain closed until Friday after stakeholders from the Ministry of Education, Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC), KNUT, parents and the school’s management board held a four-hour closed door meeting shortly after the incident,” said Leshalote.

Apparently, this is not the first attack on teachers in the school as similar incidents occurred in the year 2007 and the year 2013. It is yet to be ascertained why the attacks always take place when the country is heading to a General Election.

Stiff Lengole, one of the board members, urged teachers to remain calm as the issue is being addressed once and for all.

“We ask our teachers to remain calm as we try to look for a way to solve this problem,” said Lengole.

Written by Michael Majanga