A teacher from Nyamira who was physically assaulted by his school’s headteacher while in class has opened up about the ordeal that left him hospitalised.
Vincent Onyancha, the victim of a brutal attack by his superior, quickly became the center of attention with teachers attached to the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Nyamira division threatening to strike in solidarity with their colleague.
The teacher said that he arrived at the primary school a little late and went straight to class but the headteacher followed him and began hitting him.
“On Friday, February 21, I reported to work at the school a bit late. Once I arrived, I went to class and started teaching. When I was teaching, the principal came in and started beating me up. He slapped me and beat me so hard,” expressed Onyancha while narrating the bizarre incident.
“Afterwards, he dragged me into his office where he brought me to the ground, striking blows and kicking me. I got serious injuries and had to be taken to hospital and got admitted,” he added.
The injuries sustained by Onyancha left the teacher with a partially destroyed left eardrum, injuries to his groin area, and other bodily injuries.
Onyancha stated that the headteacher, who was physically stronger and bigger than him, brought the injuries upon him with his bare hands citing his lateness as the reason for the severe beating he endured.
The teacher at Nyanchoka Primary School called upon the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), KUPPET, and other human rights agencies to intervene and take action against the headteacher.
“I would like the TSC, KUPPET, and other human rights agencies to intervene and take action towards this issue,” Onyancha remarked.
The headteacher accused of the assault has yet to publicly respond to the accusations leveled against him.
Onyancha's case is not the first instance of a teacher being assaulted. St. Gabriel Isongo Secondary School in Mumias East gained attention after parents confronted and assaulted the principal over poor Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results.
A video captured a parent entering the principal’s office, and forcibly removing him after a physical confrontation.
The school recorded one B, one B-, eight Cs, 12 C-s, 24 D+s, 46 Ds, 79 D-s, and four Es, results that left parents deeply dissatisfied.
