Parent sues school for son's expulsion over sodomy

Nakuru, Kenya: A parent in Molo, Nakuru County has moved to court to challenge wrongful expulsion of his son from school over sodomy allegations two years ago.

Adow Elmi, a parent of a form two student at Molo academy on Monday sued the school seeking redress over what he termed wrongful dismissal of his son from the institution.

Elmi told Nakuru High court judge Lady Justice Janet Mulwa that his son was never given fair hearing and there was more to the expulsion than the mere sodomy allegations.

"While other students were recalled back after their submissions were heard I got no information whatsoever over my son's situation and his Islamic faith could have been the cause," he testified.

Elmi further blamed the institution of subjecting his son to psychological torture to an extent that the son at one time attempted to commit suicide.

"My son used to be very social and jovial, sadly after his expulsion from the school he has become withdrawn, developed low self-esteem and at one time attempted to commit suicide by taking poison but luckily I was around and saved him," he told the court.

He claimed that he had paid the entire school fees and was at pains when the son was expelled on faulty grounds stating that the allegations the school had fronted against his son were baseless and untrue.

He further told court that while he got a transfer letter for his son from the academy, the principal refused to release his clearance certificate.

His 17-year old son was accused of enticing several students into committing sodomy with him just one term after reporting to the school from another high school.

The school however denied having expelled the student, arguing that he had just become unpopular among his fellow students over his unnatural conduct and could be easily attacked and injured by the students if his teachers were not around and therefore he required some time off school.

Through their lawyer, the board stated that they only suspended the boy and never sent him away as the parent had earlier alleged adding that it was in fact the parent who withdrew the boy from the institution.

Elmi however refuted all the school's defense position stating that no parent would withdraw a child from school after having paid the entire yearly fees and that his son was tested over sodomy related complications in various hospitals and given a clean bill of health.

He accused the board of not being sincere over the matter

The case was adjourned to February 2, 2015 pending further hearings.