The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has raised concerns over increasing cases of violence against teachers, calling for urgent government intervention to protect educators from attacks by parents, students and armed criminals.
KUPPET Laikipia County organising secretary Omoke Dunstan said teachers were increasingly being exposed to danger while carrying out their professional duties, warning that the trend threatened the safety of school staff and the delivery of quality education.
In a statement, Dunstan cited the case of Benard Kamuti, the headteacher of Kiviu Primary and Junior School in Miambani Zone, Kitui County, who was reportedly left with multiple fractures in his arm following an alleged assault by an angry parent.
He said the incident reflected a wider problem that had been reported in several parts of the country, with teachers facing attacks linked to examination results, student discipline and insecurity.
In Bomet County, headteacher Frankline Langat was reportedly injured during an attack by a group of parents at Kapsimbiri, forcing police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Dunstan also cited incidents in Murang’a County, where four teachers were allegedly assaulted by students within a month. One teacher reportedly suffered eye injuries and sought a transfer, while another was attacked after confiscating a mobile phone that rang during an examination.
In Marsabit County, a deputy principal was reportedly assaulted by parents following a disciplinary incident involving a student.
The union official further pointed to Homa Bay County, where parents allegedly stormed two schools and forced principals out over dissatisfaction with Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results.
Insecurity threatens teachers in Isiolo
The situation in Isiolo County was described as particularly worrying, with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) reportedly withdrawing 59 teachers from four schools because of escalating insecurity.
Dunstan cited the killing of deputy principal William Gatobu, who was reportedly shot and stabbed while travelling home from school, as well as an attack on teacher Robert Kinyua, who was allegedly ambushed by armed bandits and left with serious injuries.
He said teachers should not be held solely responsible for poor academic performance or subjected to violence for enforcing school rules.
“Teachers are being treated as punching bags for society’s frustrations,” Dunstan said, arguing that attacks on educators reflected a worrying disregard for the rule of law and the teaching profession.
Union demands stronger protection measures
He called for stronger protection measures, effective enforcement of existing laws and decisive action against perpetrators, saying warnings alone would not guarantee teachers’ safety.
Dunstan also urged parents to resolve grievances through established school management structures instead of resorting to threats or violence.
He said teachers needed a secure working environment, particularly in areas affected by persistent insecurity, and called on education authorities, security agencies and community leaders to work together to prevent further attacks.
The union official maintained that safeguarding teachers was a shared responsibility, warning that continued violence could undermine morale and disrupt learning.
A nation that attacks its teachers is a nation attacking its own future,” he said.
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