Education Ministry probing brutal corporal punishment at Maikona Girls

The incident, which has sparked national outrage, allegedly took place after the students failed to celebrate the teachers' return from a music competition.

Eyewitness accounts and disturbing visuals reveal deep bruises and lacerations across the backs and limbs of the affected girls, injuries reportedly inflicted using Bunsen burner wires and other blunt objects.

“These children were treated like animals,” one distraught parent said, speaking during a protest outside the school. “Their backs are torn, their skin peeled off — no human being should be subjected to that.”

Another parent added, “It looked like they had been attacked with weapons. If they had used ID cards at a neighboring school instead, it would have caused less harm.”

Outraged by the brutality, parents and community members staged a demonstration, demanding justice and immediate disciplinary action against the teachers involved.

“We are Kenyans like everyone else. We demand justice and the immediate removal of the teachers responsible. We cannot coexist with them in this area,” said one protester.

Corporal punishment has been outlawed in Kenyan schools since the enactment of the Basic Education Act, 2013, which prohibits all forms of physical and degrading punishment.

In response to the incident, Principal Secretary for Education Dr. Julius Bitok confirmed that both the Ministry and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) are actively investigating the matter.

“Some students were subjected to corporal punishment, which is completely outlawed. We want to remind all teachers in Kenya—discipline must never cross into abuse. Let us do the right thing,” said PS Bitok.

TSC Director Hussein Mohammed echoed this, stating that any individuals found culpable would face disciplinary measures in line with the law.