- A Kilifi court has sentenced Ganze teacher Gipson Ziro Shida to 10 years in prison after convicting him of a sexual relationship with a student.
- The court has acquitted Shida of the more serious defilement charge while finding him guilty of the lesser relationship charge.
- Magistrate Ivy Wasike has warned teachers to maintain professional boundaries with students and has granted Shida 14 days to appeal.
A teacher from Ganze, Kilifi County, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after the Kilifi Law Courts found him guilty of engaging in a sexual relationship with a student at the school where he taught.
Gipson Ziro Shida was acquitted of the more serious charge of defiling the student but was convicted on the charge of having a sexual relationship with the learner.
Delivering her ruling, Kilifi Magistrate Ivy Wasike cautioned teachers against engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with students, emphasising that educators carry a responsibility to protect learners and support their academic development.
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The magistrate said teachers are expected to serve as role models and key pillars in guiding learners both academically and morally, rather than engaging in conduct that compromises their professional responsibilities.
In her remarks, Magistrate Wasike underscored the importance of maintaining clear professional boundaries between teachers and students, noting the position of trust and authority that educators hold within schools.
She further stated that interactions between teachers and learners must remain strictly professional, centred on education, mentorship and the protection of children under their care.
Shida has 14 days from the date of sentencing within which to file an appeal against both the conviction and the sentence.
By Salim Mwachofi
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