Pupil paralysed after 36 strokes

A Standard Eight pupil of Ebenezer Academy in Bungoma Central sub-county is admitted at the County Referral hospital after sustaining serious injuries from corporal punishment.

The pupil,14, was allegedly caned 36 times on July 11 by a teacher as a punishment for scoring 81 marks in an English test instead of targeted 100 marks.

According to the victim who spoke to The Standard from his hospital bed, he was “mercilessly beaten, fainted only to regain conscious an hour later”.

The teenager claimed that the director of the private school begged him not to report the matter and allow the school take care of his medical expenses.

Gerald Munyapala Khisa, the victim’s father who works as a security guard in Kisumu, said the school management failed to disclose to him his son’s condition until it worsened. 

“The director of Ebenezer Academy, called on July 16, informing me that my son was in a critical condition and was being taken to Bungoma County Referral hospital but instead, took him to a private facility,” said Mr Khisa.

He said the school director informed him that he took the pupil to the private facility where his (director) AON Minet medical insurance card would be used.

“The hospital bill rose to Sh252,894.65 in just one week  and the director told me to have my son discharged from the hospital since he could not afford to pay more. That he had exhausted his limit and asked me to repay him Sh200,000 which he used to pay the hospital bill,” claimed Mr Khisa.

Mr Wanyama, the director of the school refuted the canning claims: “The pupil fell sick and I just acted as a Good Samaritan by taking him to hospital”.

The County Referral hospital administrator Dan Oswano confirmed that the teenager was admitted at the male’s surgical ward “in critical condition”.

“An X ray done by the hospital shows that the veins are blocked and the patient is supposed to undergo surgery,” he said. “The veins could have been blocked due to injuries on his back or buttocks.”

The sub-county director of Education David Ayieta regretted that his office was in the dark about the occurrence.

“The parent should report to police,” he said calling for action on any teacher found culpable.

The parents have since booked the case at Bungoma Police station (OB No. 79/05/08/2019), where they say the pupil was caned while at school to a point that he could not walk.

Bungoma South sub-county Police Commander, Wilson Nanga, confirmed the incident saying the parents have even recorded statements with investigators over the matter and subsequently filled medical report forms (P3). 

“I have asked the Nzoia Officer Commanding Station (OCS) to arrest the female teacher suspect who is likely be arraigned on assault related charges soon,” he said.