Kaplong Girls closed after students protest alleged sexual harassment

Kaplong Girls High School in Bomet County has been closed indefinitely after students staged protests against alleged sexual harassment.

The unrest began on Saturday afternoon when students accused a male teacher of repeated sexual misconduct, including claims that he had impregnated one of the students.

The protests escalated into a chaotic scene, with demonstrators reportedly breaking window panes and damaging school property as they demanded the teacher's arrest and prosecution.

School principal Clara Mitei said the unrest led to the school's indefinite closure.

"The report about the school closure is true following the students' unrest last night," Mitei stated, adding, "We released the students to go home at 7am today after they became unruly and disrupted school operations."

The principal acknowledged that the main grievances voiced by the students were directed at the male teacher accused of sexually harassing several learners.

However, she called for patience and emphasised the importance of due process, stating that the school would treat the claims as allegations pending the outcome of investigations.

"While we take the students' concerns seriously, we must also ensure thorough and impartial investigations. Appropriate actions will be taken once the truth is established," she added.

A source, who requested to remain anonymous, alleged that the teacher has been engaging in inappropriate behaviour with students since 2007, raising concerns about the oversight and accountability mechanisms within the school.

The incident has elicited strong reactions from parents, education stakeholders, and the general public, with calls for swift action from the Ministry of Education and law enforcement agencies to ensure justice is served and the safety of learners is maintained.

The protest came just a day after Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced that the government will enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding romantic relationships between teachers and students.

Speaking at Tenwek High School in Bomet County during a prize-giving ceremony on Friday, Bitok emphasised that the initiative aims to prevent inappropriate relationships between educators and learners.

“No teacher should pursue inappropriate relationships with students. Any breach of trust will result in swift disciplinary and legal action,” he stated.

Bitok condemned any behaviour where teachers or other school stakeholders take advantage of children sexually.

“We want to denounce, in the strongest terms possible, those behaviours of teachers or any individuals who seek to exploit our children,” he added.

He noted that the crackdown on teachers involved in romantic relationships with students will be extended nationwide.

“We are committed to upholding the safety and dignity of learners in all educational institutions, not just at Alliance Girls, but in every school across the country,” Bitok asserted.

In addition, Bitok announced the government’s plans to implement key reforms aimed at transforming the education sector into a more transparent, efficient, and data-driven system.

This includes adopting the e-Government Procurement (e-GP) platform to enhance accountability in resource utilisation and transitioning to the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) for improved real-time data management and planning.

He described the upgrade from the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) to KEMIS as a significant advancement.

Bitok referred to KEMIS as “version 4.0,” compared to the current “3.0,” noting that it will offer access portals for all stakeholders and track students' progress from Early Childhood Development (ECD) through postgraduate studies.

“This portal will encompass the entire education system, integrating all school levels into one ecosystem and allowing us to monitor a learner's journey from one level to the next,” he explained.

With over 90% of Kenyans now owning mobile phones, Bitok revealed that the Ministry of Education will introduce a mobile app to enhance accessibility and engagement for parents, schools, and learners.

KEMIS aims to address longstanding issues, such as the fragmentation of student records across Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), primary, secondary, TVET, and university levels.

The new platform will consolidate and store comprehensive data on learners, teachers, institutions, and finances.

Others in attendance at the event included PS Aurelia Rono, Senator Hillary Sigei, Bomet Central MP Richard Kilel, Chepalungu MP Victor Koech, Wilson Sossion, and various other leaders.

Additional reporting by Kiprono Kurgat