Emotions ran high at Chepkemel village in Chemase location in Tinderet Nandi county during the burial ceremony of the late Kelvin Kiptanui who was – a Form 1 student at Chemase Secondary School.
The burial of the 16-year-old student who died following an alleged corporal punishment from his teachers on the grounds that Kelvin had copied answers during a physics test had a lot of blame games as the family hit at pathologist Simon Omuok for delaying the autopsy outcome despite having waited for longer time
“It is so sad that we are burying our beloved son although the family is yet to learn the truth of what exactly happened. Why is it that the autopsy was done over four hours without results? Is someone trying to interfere with justice and why?” Charles Kirong the family spokesperson posed.
His sentiments were echoed by leaders and parents present demanding the arrest of the teachers implicated in punishing the student.
“The mentioned teachers in the corporal punishment incident are still walking freely yet our son is no more. The government need to be serious alongside Teacher’s Service Commission(TSC) on the action against such inhumane acts,” James Tarus a parent added.
Police have been asked to explain why they have not arrested the two teachers who are accused of caning the form one student on March 3, 2023, before the student died the following day on Saturday, March 4 2023, at the NandiHills Hospital.
The student was laid to rest without the public being informed on the actual cause of his death since results from the government chemist in Nairobi have not yet been made public.
Chemase secondary school Board Chairman Prof Joel Chemiron and Chemelil/Chemase Ward MCA Martin Douglas demanded the immediate arrest and sacking of the teachers implicated in the caning incident
“Kevin was beaten as per the statement recorded at the station. The school board, parents and students want justice to be done. I have called for a board meeting on Wednesday 15 for disciplinary action against the mentioned teachers even as we wait for postmortem outcome,” Chemiron noted
“The board of management at school and members of the public want the police to have the two teachers arrested while the investigation is ongoing,” Martin stated.
The two teachers were not present during the burial of the deceased but workers and some of the teachers from the school attended the burial.
According to the family, Kevin was in good health since he was born on March 3, 2002, and the student only started complaining of stomach pains on Friday afternoon after the punishment.
The late students schooled at Kiptiong primary school between 2011 and 2022 before joining the Chemase secondary school in 2023.
