In an alarming turn of events, the Commission of Administrative Justice (Ombudsman) has been forced to intervene after 15 Form Two students were suspended for standing up against unhygienic conditions and impaired services at their school.
The affected parents of the students complained to the Commission that the principal suspended their children from the school after they rioted against being forced to bathe with dirty stormwater and unhygienic food preparations.
The students had also raised other issues including the denial of extra tuition despite the parents having paid Ksh1,500 per term since their admission to Form One.
On July 17, 2024, the parents of the students were summoned to the school to pick up their children who had been suspended without issuing a suspension letter nor communicating the date when they would be allowed back to the school.
"The students are still at home without suspension letters and no communication from the school's principal regarding when they are to resume. This is an infringement of the children's rights to education not to mention the lack of extra tuition services paid for by the parents," read part of the letter from the parents to the Ombudsman.
The parents were forced to seek the intervention of the commission after the students had spent over five months at home following the unprecedented suspension.
"We the parents are requesting for the Commission's urgent intervention to have the matters resolved and the students readmitted back to the school to continue with their education," the letter by the parents continued.
Following the Commission intervention, the students were readmitted to the school five months after suspension.
"The Commission wishes to draw your attention to Article 47(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 on Fair Administrative Action and particularly the provision that provides that the Administrative action be lawful, expeditious, reasonable, and procedurally fair," read the letter to the principal from the commission.
According to the Commission, suspending the students without the suspension letter and issuing the suspension letters months later violates the tenets of the Constitution.
The Education Ministry through the PS ordered the County Director of Education, Embu County to investigate the matter and report.
"The Ministry carried out investigations, and the principal was instructed to readmit all the 15 girls unconditionally and ensure that future disciplinary cases are handled without unnecessary delays," read the letter from the PS.
