'Please forgive me': MP Shabir pleads after outbursts on teachers

Kisumu town East MP Shakeel Shabir, Chair, APNAC during the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption Kenya (APNAC-K) Media roundtable engagement at the Fairmont The Norfolk, Nairobi. September 19, 2023. ( Elvis Ogina, Standard)

Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabir has apologised to teachers at St Peter’s Kindu Secondary School for scolding them in front of parents and students.

The incident, which triggered national outrage, prompted immediate condemnation from teachers' unions and education stakeholders.

Speaking on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after attending a church service in Kisumu East, Shabir admitted to acting out of emotion and acknowledged he crossed the line as a leader.

He emphasised his respect for teachers and offered what he termed an “unreserved apology.”

"I want to tell you that I have great respect for teachers. I am where I am because of teachers. I went out of line, and I beg for your forgiveness,” said Shabir.

He added; “Teachers are the pillars of society. They are not part of the problem but rather part of the solution.”

While maintaining that issues of poor performance at Kindu Secondary still require urgent attention, Shabir lamented the drastic drop in the school’s academic results and student enrolment.

Once a thriving institution with over 450 students and solid infrastructure, the school now has only 81 students enrolled.

According to the MP, recent internal tests show a worrying trend, with most Form Four students scoring Grade E.

"We started Kindu Secondary with hope. But now, performance has dropped from a mean score of over 270 to less than 120. We can’t ignore this,” he said, attributing part of the decline to leadership challenges and teacher morale.

Shabir’s apology followed a strong statement from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), whose Secretary-General Akelo Misori condemned the MP’s actions. Flanked by union officials in Kisumu, Misori decried the public humiliation of teachers and demanded accountability.

"What happened at Kindu Secondary School is unacceptable. The school has become hostile for teachers. We are against any form of political interference in the management of teachers,” said Misori. “Only the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is legally mandated to supervise teachers.”

Misori criticised Shabir’s remarks in the viral video suggesting he would initiate the transfer of teachers from the school, calling it unlawful and outside the MP's authority.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu echoed the sentiments, urging political leaders to respect the profession and refrain from undermining educators. Speaking in Kisumu, Oyuu emphasised that only qualified education bodies should assess teacher performance.

“Curriculum delivery is managed through channels properly laid down by the Ministry of Education and the TSC,” Oyuu said. “I don’t know how a Member of Parliament fits in. You cannot manage teachers, and this must stop.”

Oyuu warned that the increasing trend of political figures intimidating teachers could have serious consequences, stating, “An injury to one teacher is an injury to all. If you are not careful, hell will break loose against you.”

Despite the tension, Shabir has called for a collective approach to restore the school’s former glory, noting that the poor academic performance is as painful to parents as it is to leaders. He urged for collaboration among teachers, parents, and education officials to address the crisis at Kindu Secondary.

His apology came just hours after KNUT and KUPPET called for sweeping reforms and teacher support in the school, signalling that the issue is far from over.