Teacher Charged with Attempted Murder After Brutal Caning of 9-Year-Old 104 Times Sparks Outrage
A disturbing event in Nyamira County has led to a teacher being charged with attempted murder after allegedly caning a 9-year-old student 104 times.
The charge was filed against the teacher in court on Friday, July 19, following allegations that the teacher used a plastic pipe to deliver the harsh punishment.
The child’s ordeal began with a seemingly minor issue: misplacing his school uniform.
However, the teacher’s response was extreme. Reports indicate that the teacher caned the student 104 times on the buttocks.
This excessive punishment caused severe injuries to the child’s buttocks, requiring urgent medical care.
The prosecution disclosed troubling details about the pupil’s condition.
The student developed a hematoma, a dangerous accumulation of clotted blood in his tissues.
According to a prosecution witness, this condition could have been fatal if the clots had moved to the heart.
“If the blood clots had traveled to the vein, they could have dislodged and caused heart issues,” the witness testified, underscoring the severe risk from the teacher’s actions.
The prosecution contends that the severity of the injuries and the potential for fatal outcomes amounted to attempted murder.
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The teacher, who attended the court session, has not yet provided a defense. The high-profile case is set to continue.
This incident has once again highlighted the issue of corporal punishment in schools.
Despite the government banning corporal punishment in 2001, the practice persists. Its roots trace back to colonial times when it was employed by missionaries and colonizers to enforce control.
A recent national survey, the 2019 Violence Against Children report, revealed a troubling fact: over half of 18 to 24-year-olds in Kenya still believe corporal punishment by teachers is necessary.
An anonymous employee from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) spoke to BBC Africa Eye in 2023, revealing that reports of severe school beatings have more than quadrupled in the past three years, rising from seven to 29. Many incidents remain unreported, suggesting the problem is even more widespread.
Sadly, deaths resulting from school beatings are not uncommon in Kenya. Media reports have documented over 20 such deaths in the past five years.
The idea that educators, who are supposed to nurture and develop children, could cause such harm is shocking, yet it remains a troubling reality.
Teacher Charged with Attempted Murder After Brutal Caning of 9-Year-Old 104 Times Sparks Outrage
