A family in Kilifi is in mourning and demanding justice following the death of their 15-year-old daughter, who allegedly succumbed to injuries inflicted by a teacher at Gongoni Primary School in Vipingo.
The student, identified as Anestine Tunje, a Grade 8 candidate, died after sustaining severe head injuries. A post-mortem revealed that she succumbed to internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma, with clots forming in her brain.
According to her father, Alex Tunje, Anestine developed a severe headache before being rushed to Kilifi Referral Hospital, where doctors later confirmed her death.
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“Ndio ananiambia mtoto wako aliumia aligongwa ama vipi… tukamchukua tukampeleka hospitali saa kumi na moja asubuhi. Madaktari wakaniambia mtoto wako ameshindwa,” he recounted.
Her grandmother, Carolyne Kiringi, who is also a teacher, expressed outrage over the incident, questioning how a colleague could subject a child to such brutality.
“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,” she said.
Family spokesperson Jimmy Thoya confirmed that the autopsy results showed Anestine had been hit several times on the head with a blunt object.
“Tumesikitika kwa sababu tunashindwa ni jinsi gani mwalimu anaweza kuadhibu mtoto kwa kumgonga kichwa. Hiyo ndiyo ripoti ya post-mortem,” he said.
Human rights activists in the Coast region have condemned the incident, demanding the immediate arrest of the teacher involved.
“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,” activist Walid Sketty noted.
Kilifi North Deputy County Commissioner Samuel Mutisya confirmed that investigations are ongoing and assured the family that justice will be served. He emphasized that corporal punishment is outlawed under both the Children Act and the Basic Education Act.
“Katika kudiscipline mtoto, sheria ni nyingi ambazo zimekataa… Hata uite mzazi wake mtoto azungumziwe, lakini sio kupiga mtoto,” Mutisya said.
The tragedy has sparked fresh calls for stricter enforcement of laws against corporal punishment in schools, as Anestine’s family and rights groups demand swift action to hold the teacher accountable.