The Government has indefinitely closed Chemase Secondary school in Tindaret Sub County Nandi following the death of a 20-year-old form one student that sparked tension in the school.
Confirming the closure of the school, Nandi County Commissioner Herman Shiambi said that the move would give security agencies in the area time to carry out investigations into the incident.
The CC said that the Government has launched a probe into the matter and the law would take its full force once the investigations were concluded.
“It’s very unfortunate that corporal punishment is happening in schools at a time when the Government banned it. I assure the parents and all the students that the law will take its full force,” stated the CC.
The County Commissioner called on the two teachers who were being allegedly accused of severely beating Kiptanui to come out from their hideout to record statements with the police saying that their statements would aid the police with investigations.
Earlier on, the students of the institution had joined parents and residents of Tindaret on Monday morning to protest the death of Kevin Kiptanui, a Form One student who it is alleged succumbed to injuries sustained due to corporal punishment.
According to Tindaret Sub County OCPD Abdulahi Jireh, Chamase Secondary School Senior Principal Martin Masika admitted that two teachers from the institution subjected the deceased to punitive punishment on Friday March 4.
The OCPD also said that a report was made to the police on March 5 concerning the incident.
He added that the said teachers subjected Kiptanui and another unnamed student to corporal punishment when he was found to be copying Physics exams during the school’s internal exams assessment.
Jireh said that the student was rushed to Nandi Hills County Hospital on Saturday for treatment but unfortunately, he succumbed to injuries.
While confirming the death of Kevin Kiptanui, Jireh stated that the mother of the student admitted that her son had chest and stomach complications earlier when he went to school to sit for his exams.
By Kosuri Valarie
