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A 10 years old girl who was also a student at the Mukandamia Primary School died after allegedly being beaten to death by her teacher and classmates, the Nairobi News reports. The school, which can be located in Solio, Laikipia County, started to lose its students after parents decided to pull out their children from going to the school.
The alleged suspect reportedly gave command that the girl, who was having difficulty in reading, should be beaten up by her classmates whenever she failed.
Mary Wanjiku, a parent at the school, said, “The desk mates were ordered to teach her how to read and beat her if she could not. The teacher started hitting her on the back when the girl said she could not read.”
Ann Wairimu, a neighbor, said, “I visited the girl at home and she looked very weak and complained of abdominal and back pains. She said she was beaten by her teacher and classmates.”
Parents of other children soon learned about what the male teacher had done because children are the worst keepers of secrets. The kids had shared to their parents that the suspect had hurt the victim before. He then ordered everyone to join to somehow cover up the damages he had done.
One day, the girl had asked if she could go home early as she started feeling sick and nauseous. On Sunday that week, the girl felt worse. She was eventually taken to the hospital in Naromoru by her neighbor.
Wairimu claimed that the girl started vomiting blood and passed away while undergoing treatment.
Michael Mbaluku from the Kieni East OC Police Department, said, “The death has not been reported yet but we understand the child died in hospital and the doctors cannot ascertain the cause from physical examination. Once the postmortem is done we’ll know the cause and the necessary steps to take.”
Mbaluku affirmed that a report had been made and the search for the suspect had begun.
Kamemba Kamande, Sub-county director of education, said, “At the moment, we have not taken any disciplinary action against anyone but should we find any of the teachers culpable then we will take action. The police are already handling the criminal aspect of it.”
Simon Mureithi, a parent at the school, said, “I transferred my child from the school after he was beaten badly by the teacher and there many others who have the same complains. We demand that all the teachers be replaced by others who are more human.”
The Teachers Commission released a statement that reads: “The loss of a young and innocent pupil such as Joy Wangari, under whatever circumstances, is both sad and regrettable. Thus, when the incident reported, investigations were immediately commenced.”
The statement continues: “TSC and Ministry of Education officials are still on the ground in order to establish the actual circumstances under which the pupil died.”
Esther Wangui, the girl’s grandmother and guardian, said, “My granddaughter could not read and even the teachers knew that. Wangui was crying when she gave this statement.
The boys who attacked her didn’t think twice in hitting her, according to the girl’s twin sister. One of the students kicked her on the back while another one punched her in her lower abdomen multiple times, according to Nairobi News.
Wangui continued, “When her sister came to get me so we could take Joy home, she said that their teacher had told two boys to beat he because she could not read.”
Wangui added, “Her condition worsened over the weekend and on Sunday, we decided to rush her to Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mweiga because she was vomiting blood and bleeding from the nose. Her abdomen was also swollen.”
Onesmus Kyatha, Laikipia County Commissioner, said, “Already the matter has been reported to the DCI Laikipia Central and detectives led by the Divisional Criminal Investigations Officer will begin investigations immediately.”
Mr. Kyatha, Laikipia County Commissioner, said, “This is a very disturbing and unfortunate case and we will give it the highest level of attention to ensure the postmortem is conducted and those involved arrested.”
The Teachers Service Commission commenced investigations regarding the incident. The girl, who was at third grade, was beaten to death by her teacher and her classmates.
