A deeply disturbing investigative report by Nairobi-based journalism outfit Africa Uncensored has cast a shadow over the reputation of Alliance Girls High School, one of Kenya’s top national institutions, following decades-long allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct involving a senior male teacher.
The investigation — compiled over four years and published under the title “The Teacher and the System” — presents a comprehensive body of testimonies, private communications, and contextual analysis implicating teacher Peter Ayiro, a long-serving staff member at the school who also held powerful roles including Christian Union patron and drama club leader.
According to the report, Ayiro cultivated emotionally charged relationships with numerous students over the span of more than two decades.
Former students describe a pattern of calculated grooming characterized by emotionally intimate communication, special privileges, one-on-one encounters, and persistent messaging that in some cases continued well beyond their time at the school.
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“He would call some of us ‘spiritually gifted’ or ‘God’s chosen,’” said one former student. “It made you feel seen, special… but over time, it crossed emotional boundaries.”
The investigation outlines several cases where the teacher’s behavior reportedly escalated into sexual encounters — some allegedly occurring after students had turned 18, but while they were still emotionally and psychologically vulnerable due to the prolonged mentorship dynamic.
In one account, a former student says Ayiro picked her up during the COVID-19 lockdown for what was presented as a walk, only for the interaction to turn sexual — first in his car and later in his residence within the school compound. Another student claims she was invited to his house shortly after her 18th birthday, again under the guise of preparation for a mentorship event, which ended in sex.
The report further alleges that Ayiro’s close ties with the administration — particularly with a former principal — allowed him to operate unchecked. He reportedly enjoyed privileges such as excusing students from scheduled activities, organizing private meetings, and leveraging his influence within school and church circles to avoid scrutiny.
Multiple teachers interviewed admitted to noticing the concerning dynamics, but most refrained from making formal complaints. Some cited fear, futility, or a perceived “institutional protection” that surrounded Ayiro.
Notably, Ayiro’s position in the school’s religious life — particularly his leadership in the Christian Union — appears to have granted him significant spiritual authority, making it difficult for students to question his intentions.
“He blurred the lines between pastoral care and personal attention,” reads one segment of the report. “Students trusted him deeply, and many dismissed their discomfort as guilt or overthinking.”
Efforts to raise alarm within the institution reportedly fell on deaf ears. The report cites formal concerns raised as early as 2018 and again in 2021, but no disciplinary action or serious inquiry followed.
The revelations have prompted questions about the role of internal oversight bodies, the Teachers Service Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the school’s board. Critics argue that the systemic failure to investigate or act on repeated red flags amounts to a gross failure in student protection and institutional accountability.
The report also explores how the influence of Ayiro extended into post-school religious spaces tied to his father’s ministry, Koinonia Life Centre, led by Pastor Aggrey Ayiro. Some former students recounted being approached romantically by Ayiro again in adulthood within these networks.
In private messages cited in the report, Ayiro used romantic and spiritually-charged language such as “my heartbeat” and “special one,” further highlighting the emotional entanglement in his communications.
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