Teacher did not impregnate student, DNA test reveals

Phillip Lang'a, who was accused of impregnating a form four student at Mawingu Secondary School in 2018. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard].

A secondary school teacher interdicted last year on allegations of impregnating a student can now breathe a sigh of relief after DNA results revealed he was not the father of the baby.

Philip Lang'at had been falsely accused of impregnating a Form Four student who delivered last year.

He had DNA samples of him and the newborn collected for analysis in March after he surrendered to the police.

However, the case has now turned against Mawingu Secondary School Principal Wilson Salpei, board chairperson Jane Rono, the girl and her mother, who were on Monday arraigned over the matter.

Appearing before Molo Magistrate Alice Mukenga, the four faced various charges, among them conspiracy to defeat justice and giving false information to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the police.

Mr Salpei faced additional charges of abuse of office by influencing the board of management to have the teacher dismissed.

A report submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) last May indicated that Lang'at was not the father of the child, prompting the DPP to recommend the arrest and prosecution of the four.

The four denied the charges and were released on a bond of Sh50,000 with a surety of the same amount or a Sh10,000 cash bail. The case will be heard on July 18.