Jackson Mobisa Marucha, a teacher at Riang’ombe SDA Primary School in Embu, is set to face attempted murder charges for having caned a Grade Four pupil on the buttocks 107 times. The incident happened in March 2023 after the student reported that some school uniforms had been stolen.
The investigating officers had earlier proposed charging Marucha with assault. After review, however, the ODPP insisted on pressing charges of attempted murder. The case will come up for mention on July 29 at the Keroka Law Courts in Nyamira County.
Marucha is said to have tried to cover up the severity of his actions by locking the boy in a dormitory and denying him medical attention. The boy’s injuries are so serious that a missing flesh on his buttocks leaves him unable to sit.
The incident came to light when the boy’s classmates told their visiting uncle. The school administration did not allow the boy’s uncle to meet him at the first instance. Social media was filled with posts immediately condemning Marucha, demanding an arrest.
A team comprising the DCI detectives, the local police and the Ministry of Education intervened and grilled the head teacher of the school, Isabella Kumenda, and her four subordinates. It emerged that although headteacher Kumenda had distanced self from the incident, arguing that she was away, she was quizzed over the delay in reporting the incident.
The five teachers were kept in police custody at Manga Police Station as Marucha fled into hiding. He was arrested three days later.
The incident has evoked outrage and raised concern over the safety and well-being of students in schools. This case shows that the formulation of tighter regulations and stronger supervision is necessary to prohibit such serious disciplinary actions in the future.