A head teacher was yesterday, arraigned in Nkubu court, Meru county where he faced two counts of damaging equipment and obstructing a journalist from carrying out his work.
Buuri-E-Kingori primary school head teacher Mugambi Nguthari appeared before Nkubu senior Magistrate Solomon Ng’etich.
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He was charged with two counts including damaging equipment worth Ksh.30, 000 belonging to a journalist and obstructing a journalist from carrying out his work.
The head teacher denied the two charges and was released on a cash bail of Ksh.30, 000 or a bond of Ksh.50, 000 as the case hearing set on July 30, 2025.
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Immediately after the mention of the court case, Meru journalists held peaceful demonstrations in the streets of Nkubu town to protest against the attack of their colleagues by the head teacher.
They matched to the offices of Imenti South OCPD where they sought an audience with the officer following threats issued by another teacher union leader.
The head teacher attacked Nyambene TV correspondent Festus Mwiti and Mwangaza TV’s Clinton Koome as they were in the line of duty outside the school on Wednesday,June 11.
The two journalists were recording grievances from parents about the school administration.
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A female parent who was addressing the journalists was also assaulted and has already recorded a statement with the police.
Koome said they had been called by parents who were complaining that the head teacher had been assaulting and mistreating their children.
Also on the spot is a Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) Meru chairman Benard Kiragu who is on record threatening to incite head teachers to beat journalists who go to do stories in schools.
The Media Council of Kenya, the Meru Press Club and Imenti Press Club condemned the incident terming it an encroachment to press freedom.
Thirty four Meru journalists attended the court session and after the case they demonstrated around the streets of Nkubu town and went to Nkubu police demanding the arrest of Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) Meru chairman Benard Kiragu who is on record threatening journalists they will beaten up if they go to schools to follow up stories.
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Meru Press Club chairman David Muchui said beating up a journalist is violating the law as press freedom and access to information is enshrined in the constitution article 33 and 34.
“We want him to be a lesson to others who have such behaviour who want to beat up journalists or damage their equipment,” Muchui said.
He urged the court to take stern measures against the head teacher.
Muchui also applauded the police for arresting the head teacher and also urged them to arrest KEPSHA Meru chairman Benard Kiragu who is on record threatening to incite headteachers to beat journalists who go to do stories in schools.
“When Kiragu was called regarding the incident instead of apologizing he went ahead to say he will incite head teachers to beat up journalists who show up at schools,” Muchui said.
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The journalists threatened to hold more demonstrations if Kiragu is not arrested.
But in a swift rejoinder, the embattled KEPSHA Meru boss defended his sentiments. He maintained that journalists should always seek permission before accessing learning institutions.
“The point is that I would incite them (teachers) if journalists went to schools without permission, nothing else behold that. If they sought permission to go to schools, then I have no quarrel with them. If it was outside the school, I still maintain that was a criminal offence,” Kiragu said.
Imenti South sub-county police commander Abdirahman Musa said they are investigating the alleged sentiments made by the KEPSHA official.
“As you have seen, the head teacher has been arraigned in court, and the other issue is under investigation,” said Abdirahman.
By John Majau.
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