Officials and teachers under the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) were attacked today and left with injuries after they stormed St Peter’s Kindu Secondary School in Kisumu East Sub-county to protest the harassment of a colleague by area MP Shakeel Shabbir.
The teachers, led by KUPPET Kisumu Executive Secretary Zablon Awange, arrived at the school in a union-branded bus to condemn the recent incident in which MP Shabir was captured on video verbally attacking a teacher over poor academic performance.
However, the peaceful protest quickly turned violent when members of the public reportedly began pelting the bus with stones.
Attempts by the teachers to alert them to their safety were met with beatings using canes.
Awange said the union members had assembled peacefully to show solidarity with their colleague, who had been demeaned, but were instead met with hostility.
“This attack is not just an assault on teachers but an affront to the very fabric of our education system, and it must be met with the strongest possible response from authorities,” said Awange.
The situation escalated as the teachers were held hostage inside the school compound, fearing for their lives as community members threatened to stone them. Some teachers sought refuge within the school, while others fled into nearby bushes.
Police officers from Gita Police Station were quickly mobilized to prevent further violence and to restore order.
The teachers are now calling for the immediate arrest of the attackers and demanding that the government take concrete steps to protect educators, including guaranteeing their right to protest peacefully without intimidation or violence.
READ ASLSO:
NACADA to raise alcohol drinking age to 21 years, ban sales near schools
The MP has since issued a public apology for his conduct, attributing his outburst to emotional distress.
Meanwhile, the harassed teacher has engaged legal counsel, who have written to the MP demanding a formal apology and admission of liability.
Earlier the goons pelted members of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers led by the Kisumu chapter executive secretary Awange with stones and other objects.
Awange said the goons partially damaged the union bus which had ferried the members to learning which is now at the centre of a row.
Some of the members sustained injures during the standoff which attracted huge crowd around the learning institution.
Awange claimed the goons who were hired by associated to area Member of Parliament.
He wondered why Shabbir had to personally go to oversee the handing over by a former principal to the incoming one.
Awange said the incident showcases situations where the chief executive officer of the teacher’s service commission Nancy Macharia gave out letters to politicians.
The official claimed Shabir had taken control of the learning instiution.
Shabir has been on the spotlight after rebuking teachers at the school.
The incident has drawn a backlash from various stakeholders forcing the MP to tender a public apology.
By Fredrick Odiero
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
