Police in Kakamega are hunting for a teacher who is on the run after being accused of sexually assaulting pupils at Elwangale Primary School, located in Munjiti village, Khwisero Constituency.
The suspect, who taught at the school and also served as the Christian Union patron, is alleged to have repeatedly targeted male pupils.
The abuse reportedly came to light after one of the affected boys confided in his class teacher, prompting the school to escalate the matter.
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The teacher was later summoned by the Khwisero Sub-County Director of Education over the allegations, but he vanished soon after and has been in hiding since.
Khwisero Sub-County Police Commander Ezekiel Chepkwony confirmed that law enforcement officers are following solid leads and are confident about apprehending the suspect.
“We are working on good leads, and I want to assure parents and the community that we will soon arrest the suspect and arraign him for justice to prevail,” said Chepkwony.
Initial investigations reveal that the teacher had allegedly been summoning the boys to the school library, where he engaged them in inappropriate acts behind a closet.
“One of the students was disturbed by what the teacher demanded and confided in his class teacher, who then reported the matter to the school head,” Chepkwony added.
The shocking allegations have triggered public outrage, especially among parents of the affected pupils.
Many are now demanding accountability from the school administration and the Ministry of Education, questioning how such actions could have gone unnoticed.
“Our kids are not safe in schools. We want the government to ensure justice prevails. The school management must explain how this has been happening under their watch,” said one parent.
Parents dismissed claims that the children had only been subjected to inappropriate touching, maintaining that the abuse was severe and has left the children emotionally scarred.
“Our children are traumatised and need counselling. We will not allow any cover-up,” said another parent. “Some of us are transferring our children. The environment is no longer safe.”
In response to the growing concern, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok warned teachers against misconduct, vowing that those found guilty will face serious consequences.
“The government will not tolerate immoral behaviour in our schools. Teachers engaging in any form of abuse will be held accountable under the law,” Bitok said during a visit to Kakamega.
The Ministry has already faced scrutiny in recent weeks over a separate scandal involving a teacher at Alliance Girls High School, who is also under investigation for alleged misconduct.
As investigations continue in Khwisero, education stakeholders and child welfare advocates are calling for stronger protective measures within schools, including psychological support for victims and clearer reporting mechanisms for abuse.