Grade 8 pupil allegedly beaten to death by teacher in Kilifi

A family in Kilifi is seeking justice after their 15-year-old daughter died from head injuries allegedly inflicted by a teacher at Gongoni Primary School in Vipingo.

A post-mortem has revealed Anestine Tunje, a Grade 8 student, succumbed to internal bleeding.

Her father, Alex Tunje, says the late Anestine developed a severe headache before she was taken to Kilifi Referral Hospital, where she later succumbed.

"Ndio ananiambia mtoto wako aliumia aligongwa ama vipi…tukamchukua tukampeleka hospitali saa kumi na moja asubuhi. Madaktari wakakuja wakaniambia mtoto wako ameshindwa," said Tunje.

Carolyne Kiringi, her grandmother added, “Hakika hiyo kitu imeniuma. Mimi kama mwalimu siwezi punish mtoto namna hiyo, siwezi kabisa kabisa, maana mimi ni mzazi. Tunafundishwa kwamba kama uko na hasira zako nyumbani usiwahi kuingia darasani, afadhali ukae staff room.”

An autopsy revealed that the late Anestine had been struck several times on the head with a blunt object, resulting in blood clots in the brain.

“Tumesikitika kwa sababu tunashindwa ni jinsi gani mwalimu anaweza kuadhibu mtoto kwa kumgonga kichwa. Hiyo ndiyo ripoti ya post-mortem," a family member, Jimmy Thoya, said.

Human rights groups in the Coast region have joined the family in demanding justice and the arrest of the teacher accused of assaulting the minor.

Kilifi North Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Mutisya says investigations are underway and necessary legal procedures will be followed.

“Ni ghadhabu gani ambayo mwalimu alikuwa nayo dhidi ya mwanafunzi mpaka ampatie kichapo cha mbwa? Mpaka sasa mwalimu hajashikwa wala kuwekwa korokoroni. Ni kughadhabisha eti polisi wanasubiria post-mortem kwanza," human rights activist Walid Sketty stated.

Mutisya added, “Katika kudiscipline mtoto, sheria ni nyingi ambazo zimekataa. Kuna Children Act na pia Basic Education Act. Kama mtoto amekosea, kuna adhabu hizo ndio tunasisitiza. Hata uite mzazi wake mtoto azungumziwe, lakini sio kupiga mtoto.”