Police step in as bully prefects cause unrest in school

Concerns have been raised on incidents where corporal punishment is being meted on students of St Joseph's Nyabigena Secondary School.

Such punishment was said to have led to the death of one student a month ago. The student reportedly died after he was beaten by a prefect.

Parents in the said school now want such cases investigated and culprits held to account.

The prefect said to have beaten the student was detained at Nyamarambe police station.

He was later released without any charges being preferred against him. The Director of Public Prosecutions has since ordered an inquiry into the death.

Last Sunday night, students rioted after another prefect allegedly hit a form two student.

Two teachers have also been accused of using a pipe to cane students in the school, something that has angered students.

The Sunday night incident prompted a response from police officers and education officials, who moved to the school and restored order.

Caning students

Various interviews conducted within the school painted a picture where the unrest was provoked by prefects who insisted on caning students.

Commenting on the issue, school principal Mathew Simuyu told journalists that students had become knowledgeable about their rights and were likely to protest any brutal punishment. 

“Things have changed, it will be hard for anybody try to administer corporal punishment to students,” Mr Simuyu said.

A number of parents who spoke to The Standard claimed their sons had complained of the caning by prefects.

One of the parents who works with a State department in Kisii town said the issue had been discussed during a parents meeting.

“We have raised this issue several times. Ministry of Education officials should move in and find a solution,” the parent said.

County Education Director Pius Ng’oma said the matter was being investigated and all those found culpable would be disciplined. “We will not stop police from doing their investigations,” said Mr Ng’oma.

He said five teachers were being investigated over the Sunday night incident.

“Corporal punishment is unacceptable. We'll not encourage it, especially after a student passed on," said Ng'oma.