Five teachers at Riangombe Boarding Primary School in Nyamira County have been arrested following the assault of a nine-year-old boy.
The teachers, including the school’s head teacher and his deputy, were taken into police custody after it was discovered that they had conspired to cover up the incident.
The multi-agency team is conducting investigations, and the teacher responsible for the assault is still at large. The headteacher and his deputy, along with the three other teachers, have been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and obstruction of justice.
The Grade 4 learner was unfortunately nursing severe injuries after he was given 107 strokes of the cane by one of the teachers. The assault occurred after the boy reported an incident of a stolen shirt to one of his teachers, and instead of assisting him, the teacher decided to flog him.
It is reported that the teacher ordered some Class 8 boys to pin down the boy, after which he pounced on the boy and gave him more than a hundred strokes of the cane.
Pictures seen by Citizen TV show graphic marks on the boy’s buttocks, a clear indication of the magnitude of the corporal punishment inflicted on the young boy.
The incident has caused outrage in the community, with many calling for justice for the boy. The education director, Leo Juma, and his TSC counterpart in the region, have visited the school to conduct investigations. Some parents have claimed that this is not the first time that such an incident has happened at the school.
The incident has sparked a nationwide conversation about the use of corporal punishment in schools. Many are calling for an end to the practice, saying that it is outdated and inhumane.
The boy is currently receiving medical attention, and his parents are demanding justice for their son.
