Protect teachers from unruly gangs in work stations

To say this has been a sobering week for the Kenyan teaching fraternity is an understatement. Last week’s horrific murder of Daisy Mbaluka Mbathe, a teacher at Ndooni Primary School in Kitui County, brings home the chilling reality of senseless killings and insecurity in Kenya.

It is fair to say that our security agencies have not covered themselves in glory. Incidents of parents attacking and molesting teachers are on the rise and have caused panic, fear and anxiety among teachers.

But equally unedifying, is the disturbing narrative being cobbled together to explain the murder of Ms Mbathe, who was attacked before they burnt her body in broad daylight.

Apparently, the police now say preliminary investigations into the murder of the primary school teacher in Kitui have nothing to do with poor examination results as earlier claimed, but for criminal acts perpetrated by the victim.

As we demand thorough investigations and a speedy conclusion into it, we cannot discount possible attempts at a cover-up. Gender biases are well documented when it comes to police investigations into incidents of femicide in Kenya.

High rate

After all, this would not be the first time an attempt is made to classify the murder of a woman as simple homicide with lesser penalties, in which the extenuating circumstance of “crime of passion” or “being part of a criminal ring” is frequently cited to diminish the perpetrator’s responsibility.

Femicide has become the most serious manifestation of discrimination and violence against women. A high rate of violence against women is an indication of a society that has embedded violence against women which has consequently influenced the rise in the number of deaths.

We consider femicide as the violent death of women based on gender, whether it occurs within the family, a domestic partnership, or any other interpersonal relationship; in the community, by any person, or when it is perpetrated or tolerated by the state or its agents, by action or omission.

As we have frequently witnessed in Kenya, most femicide cases go unpunished as a result, among other things, of women’s limited access to justice and of gender bias during judicial proceedings and police and investigative work. 

As Kenya Women of Teachers Association, we cannot emphasize enough the need for teacher security in our schools.

Based on the concept that education should address and respond to the diverse needs of all learners, inclusive education is about quality education, equal participation, and safety to learn without fear of discrimination or violence

To ensure the right professionals safeguard our schools, a safe learning environment that ensures physical, emotional, and intellectual security for teachers is of paramount importance.

Quality of education provided in our schools, influences the quality of upbringing and the teaching received by future generations.

It is our petition to the government that femicide needs to be discussed and addressed from the ministerial level. The government needs to address this urgently to avert any more unnecessary attacks and deaths.

Equally, we petition the government to guarantee access to justice by women, improving the system for criminal investigation and the protection of women affected by violence, including forensic expertise, and court proceedings to eliminate impunity for perpetrators and adequately punish public officials who did not exercise due diligence in those proceedings.

This will ensure fairness and ultimately justice being done for all the parties involved.

The authorities must also include risks to life and personal safety as well as other manifestations of violence against women in their public security policies.

- The writer is Chief Executive Officer at Kenya Women Teachers Association.