Police hunt for teacher over claims of sodomising 20 pupils

Police in Kakamega are hunting for teacher who is on the run for allegedly sodomising pupils at Elwangale Primary School in Munjiti village, Khwisero Constituency.

The suspect, who is a teacher at the school, has allegedly been sodomising the boys and the matter came to the light after one pupil confided in his class teacher.

The suspect was later summoned by Khwisero Sub-County Director of Education over the sodomy allegations before he went into hiding.

Khwisero Sub County police commander Ezekiel Chepkwony, said they are pursuing good leads to arrest and arraign 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.

The police boss told The Standard that the suspect, who is a Christian Union teacher, has been calling the boys to the school library where he allegedly asks them to touch his private parts.

"According to the report we have the teacher has been calling the boys to the school library and hiding behind a closet before ordering learners to massage his private parts," said Chepkwony.

"One of the students was shocked by the teacher’s demands and he went to his class teacher, where he confessed what has been going on, and the teacher decided to escalate the matter to the school headteacher," he said.

Parents of the affected pupils are now calling on the Ministry of Education to ensure the teacher is held accountable.

They have demanded answers from the school management on why the indecent act has been going on without their knowledge.

"Our kids are not safe in schools. We want the government to ensure justice prevails. How can schools operate without noticing such incidents where pupils are sodomised? The school management should give answers," said one of the parents.

However, parents dismissed reports that the affected pupils were not sodomised but subjected to indecent acts.

"Our children are traumatised and they need counselling, they were sodomised by their teacher and we will not accept any cover-up, let those mandated to provide the safety of pupils in school be held accountable and as parents we are going to transfer our children to this school because the environment is toxic for them," said another parent.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, speaking in Navakholo and Malava Constituencies, Kakamega County last week, warned teachers engaging in indecent acts with students that their days are numbered.

"I want to warn teachers that the government will not tolerate bad morals, be it sexual or of any kind. We will ensure our children are protected and are safe in school, and any teacher who will be found engaging in unwanted behaviour will be held accountable according to the laws of the land," said Bitok.

The PS said the government, through the ministry, was on top of things, especially at the Alliance Girls High School, where a teacher was accused of allegedly engaging in sexual relationship with students.