A preliminary report on investigations carried out by the Teacher's Service Commission (TSC) pertaining the suicide of a 14-year-old girl, Jackline Chepngeno, who took her life after being shamed by her teacher for menstruation was released on Tuesday, September 20, 2019.
In the 42-page preliminary report, it was revealed that on September 6, the day the 14-year-old girl killed herself, there were 77 packets of sanitary pads in the store of the Kabiangek Primary School in Konoin, Bomet where she was studying.
“The school had received its full consignment of sanitary towels for the second term,” read a section of the report signed by TSC CEO Nancy Macharia.
Chepngeno is reported to have hung herself after being shamed by her English teacher, Jennifer Chemutai, for staining her clothes.
“The girl told me that she had been sent home by a teacher for staining her clothes but she had left pads at home,” her mother, Beatrice Kirui narrated to the special commission.
Her mother went on to state that Chepngeno had left one packet of sanitary towels at home on the fateful day, and the investigators went on to confirm her narrative by visiting her house.
“The team visited her home and confirmed that she has used one of the two packets of sanitary towels give to her by the school on July 30,” the report further disclosed.
In her defence, Chemutai denied having shamed the young girl or having sent her home, going on to state that she had addressed the girl politely.
The English teacher claimed she, in fact, offered her comfort and left for the staffroom to fetch some pads for her.
The report into Chepngeno's suicide was presented to the National Assembly Committee on Education on Thursday, September 19.
Several parents had stormed the compound on the ill-fated day, demanding justice for the deceased.
