A Form Four student from Gitongu Secondary school in Mathioya, Muranga County was admitted at the Muranga Level Four Hospital after being assaulted by five teachers from his school. Kevin Maina, 17 sustained injuries at the ankle of his right leg after being caned with a rubber whip by five male teachers.
Kevin's troubles began when he and other fellow classmates failed to attend school as the exam being done was biology practicals and not their subject, physics.
They were still summoned the next day. He explained to Tuko:
“At the office the deputy head teacher, Njaramba was joined by four male teachers who beat us with rubber whips on our backs, spines and other parts of our bodies. One of Njaramba's whips landed on the inner side of my right leg at the ankle joint."
The students were later on expelled from school but Kevin's foot condition deteriorated prompting his mother to seek treatment. He has now undergone two foot operations.
Kevin's mother, Lucy Wanjiku is very distressed about the state of affairs. She said:
“His class teachers said there was nowhere I could take them, the head teacher requested me not to pursue the matter with the police, media or education officials but he offered to pay the medical bills," she said."
Caning and spanking are much more rare these days. In the late 90's and early 2000's some students lost their lives to corporal punishment.
But it seems that the practice might be rearing its ugly head again. Two years ago, a teacher from Subukia Primary School is said to have descended on 14-year-old David Ndung'u with kicks and blows.
This was after the boy performed dismally in Social Studies. The teacher also accused Ndung'u of pulling the entire class backwards. Ndung'u later died in hospital after complaining of severe headaches.
No child should lose their life to the cane. None!