A family of a form two female student in Murang’a County is seeking justice after a teacher allegedly beat her up for failing to attend a Sunday mass.
The underage student accused the teacher of hitting her ears and causing them to bleed at Watuha Secondary School on June 11, 2023.
However, after hearing the case, Judge Martin Kinyua Mutegi, acquitted the high school teacher of the charges against him, a ruling that was not welcomed by the family.
According to the family, the witnesses who appeared before the court, including the classmate of the victim gave a false statement before the court.
Notably, the student had to wear hearing aid because of the harm caused to her ears.
“The following day, they went to Kangema police station where they reported the matter. The student was treated and discharged but now she is forced to wear hearing aid because she has issues with her ears,” read the judge.
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Judge Mutegi Gives an Account of the Incident.
On the other hand, the judge stated that the victim’s classmate who had initially corroborated the statement told the court that the form two student asked her to lie.
Also, the witness stated that her classmate and friend pricked her own year to punish the teacher for forcing her to go to church and as an opportunity to go home.
“That first, she did not record a true statement because the victim had told her to say that she had been assaulted by the teacher so that she could go home.
“That the victim told her that the teacher would pay for forcing her to go to church. While they were there, the student picked up a stick and pricked her own ear, and blood started oozing out,” the judge stated in his ruling.
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Additionally, the clinical officer who examined the student testified before the court that the bleeding was in the ear and there was no inflammation inside the ear.
“Her clothes were blood stained but had been washed. On being cross examined, it was noted that the blood-stained blouse was not presented at the police station,” added the judge.
Student and Family Response to the Ruling
However, the family of the minor have revealed their intention to appeal the ruling seeking to have the case taken to another court.
In addition, the student noted that she still stood by her statement, lamenting that she went through a lot of pain and is still undergoing treatment.
“I believe that justice has not been served. The case should be taken to another court because the doctor stated that my ears were seriously damaged,” she stated.
“We are not satisfied with the ruling. As a mother I understand the pain of my child and I know that the incident happened,” added her mother.
