School closed after student’s death
By Wycliffe Kipsang, March 7, 2023
Chemase Secondary School in Nandi was closed indefinitely following the death of a Form One student after he was allegedly beaten up by a teacher.
Tension was yesterday building up at the school with irate students demanding an explanation from the management to shed light on how their colleague died.
Anti-riot police were yesterday called to quell the tension as students vacated the institution in Tinderet constituency.
Principal Martin Masika declined to comment on the matter, saying the school had reported the death to the Ministry of Education officials who had taken up the matter.
A sombre mood had engulfed the school since Sunday evening learned of their colleague’s death.
Kevin Kiptanui,16, succumbed to injuries at Nandi Hills sub-county hospital on Sunday hours after the punishment by two teachers Alex Kipkurui and Vincent Kiplimo, according to a police report.
Copying from textbook
Initial investigations revealed the deceased and another student were found copying from a textbook during a mid-term physics exam where they were subjected to the punishment. The deceased had reported to the school just last week due to lack of school fees.
Tindiret police boss Ali Jire said police have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of the student that has shocked the school.
“The mother of the student has reported about her son’s death. We are yet to get any official information from the school management,” said Jire.
Brutal punishment
Kiptanui died at Nandi Hills Sub-County Hospital after being referred from Chepsese dispensary after collapsing at the school staff room following the brutal punishment.
According to the deceased student’s mother Monicah Jerobon, her son delayed in reporting to school due to lack of school fees.
“He was in good health when he left home on Friday morning and had not complained of any sickness. What I’m just crying for is justice for my son. He did not have to suffer such a painful death,” said the single mother of four.
Sources told People Daily that the deceased was given eight strokes of the cane until he collapsed in the staffroom.
Apparently, according to their teacher copying answers from a textbook, which the teacher didn’t take lightly, nabbed the deceased and a colleague.
Nandi County Commissioner Herman Shambi condemned the incident urging teachers to follow the due process instead of subjecting learners to brutal punishment.
Shambi questioned why teachers resorted to canning the students yet corporal punishment had been banned in schools by the government.
“As the county security team, we will not protect teachers who act with impunity. Corporal punishment in schools is prohibited and as parents and education stakeholders we want students to be givenguidance because most of them are below the age of 18,” said the administrator.
The deceased is reported to have started vomiting blood after the punishment and mishandling at the school where teachers assaulted him.
Handed to DCI
Jire said that the matter was being treated as murder adding that police had handed over the case to be investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers to get to the bottom of the matter.
The body of the student is at Nandi Hills sub-county hospital morgue pending a post-mortem examination as irate parents from Chemese location demand that the government takes action against teachers involved in the incident.
The deceased reported to Chemase two weeks ago. He delayed reporting due to a lack of fees.
The body was transferred to Nandi Hills hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem examination to establish the cause of death.