Student confronts teacher over pay for bursary

Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri adressing the press at his home on November 5, 2018. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

There was drama as a student of Rift Valley Institute of Business Studies confronted a teacher for failing to help her get a bursary even after she bribed him.

The student had allegedly given the teacher Sh10,000. The confrontation at the college grounds drew the attention of the school's administration.

“The teacher had collected money from the student and promised her that she would get the Bahati CDF scholarships offered in partnership with the college," said a source at the college.

"She stormed the teacher’s office demanding her money back when the bursary failed to materialise.”

The Bahati Constituency Development Fund has every year been sponsoring hundreds of candidates for short courses.

The source claimed this was not the only case of students parting with cash to get help.

The cases, the source said, revolved around teachers and CDF officials.

College director John Gitau told The Standard they had received the complaint. “A student was promised CDF sponsorship by a teacher and she paid him some money, but the teacher was unable to keep his promise," said Mr Gitau, adding: "We learnt about the incident when the student demanded her money back.”

Gitau clarified that the administration was not aware of any other such claim, but investigations had established that the teacher’s integrity was compromised and disciplinary action would be taken.

Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri regretted the allegations leveled against a section of his staff. “I have formed a five-member committee to investigate,” said Mr Ngunjiri.

He gave the committee two weeks to present a report on the matter and urged members of the public with allegations of bribe for sponsorship to appear before the committee or write to it.

“It will be helpful if the allegations are backed with evidence to assist in bringing this matter to a conclusion,” he said.