Senators have expressed alarm over what they described as repeated institutional failures by the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in enforcing safeguards to protect learners from teachers with predatory tendencies. 

This comes amid an uproar over the conduct of Peter Ayiro, a senior teacher and long-time Christian Union patron at Alliance Girls High School, who has been accused of sexually abusing students over an extended period. 

The lawmakers contend that school administrators, teachers and even chaplains had raised red flags over the years, but no formal investigations or disciplinary action were ever taken.

“Despite multiple principals having served at the school over this period and despite consistent rumours, concerns and warnings, Ayiro retained his position and influence,” said Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei. 

The senators further warned that similar predatory behaviour could be present in other schools, hidden behind a wall of silence, shame and fear.

“The Senate must now lead by example in demanding transparency, justice and a national safeguarding framework that puts the welfare of students above the reputation of institutions or individuals,” Cherargei said. 

Disturbing revelations 

The lawmakers argue that the disturbing revelations lift the lid on what could be a wider pattern of systemic failures in checking professional and ethical conduct within schools.

“There may be widespread failures in enforcing ethical boundaries between teachers and students in our learning institutions,” said nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana. 

According to Kibwana, the teachers’ employer, which is mandated to uphold discipline and professional conduct in schools, appears to have either failed to act or deliberately turned a blind eye. 

“This points to a deeper, more entrenched systemic issue. The Ministry of Education must audit safeguarding mechanisms in public boarding schools—particularly girls’ schools—and establish mandatory codes of conduct governing teacher-student relationships,” she added. 

While raising the matter on the floor of the House, Kibwana charged that the recent exposé has brought to public attention disturbing accounts from more than two dozen former students and teachers, detailing a pattern of grooming, emotional manipulation and inappropriate conduct by Ayiro over a period of more than two decades. 

“These acts are alleged to have taken place within the school and were enabled by a combination of unchecked influence, spiritual authority and a culture of silence. What is most concerning is not only the alleged conduct of an individual teacher, but the repeated institutional failures that allowed this behaviour to go unchecked,” charged Kibwana. 

Urgent review 

The senators called for an urgent review of TSC’s internal safeguards, reporting structures and whistleblower protections to better handle cases of misconduct in schools. 

Ayiro is accused of exploiting his trusted position as a teacher and spiritual mentor to manipulate vulnerable teenage girls, some reportedly as young as 13. 

Several testimonies from former students and teachers describe Ayiro’s use of religious mentorship, emotional manipulation, selective friendships, favours and isolation tactics to exert control over students, leaving many with long-lasting trauma, guilt and confusion. 

“Girls’ boarding schools are meant to be safe spaces for learning and character formation, yet this case reveals a pattern of grooming and predatory behaviour that appears to have been institutionally tolerated or overlooked,” charged Kibwana. 

TSC has sent Ayiro on compulsory leave for allegedly breaching multiple provisions of the TSC Act and the Code of Regulations for Teachers by engaging in professional misconduct. 

The allegations of sexual abuse at the school sparked outrage, with some former students and parents staging demonstrations at the school. 

“It has been alleged that you have breached Clause (a) of the Third Schedule to the Teachers Service Commission Act, Regulation 141 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers and clause 22 of the Code of Conduct and Ethics in that on various dates whiles stationed at Alliance Girls High School as a teacher, you engaged in acts and omissions that amount to professional misconduct,” reads part of the letter.