Security officials in Suba North Sub County have launched investigations after county government enforcement officers allegedly stormed a private school in Mbita and assaulted a teacher, triggering public outrage among education stakeholders, parents and residents.
Mbita Deputy County Commissioner Peter Mutiso confirmed that the assaulted teacher had recorded a statement with police and investigations had commenced. He condemned the conduct of the officers and urged the county government to take disciplinary action against those responsible.
Mutiso said public servants were expected to serve citizens with decorum and professionalism, adding that assault and the use of abusive language could not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“The incident is regrettable and amounts to a breach of the regulations and code of conduct governing public officers,” he said.
The confrontation, which was captured on camera and widely circulated online, drew criticism from teachers, parents and local leaders.
The officers, commonly referred to as askaris, claimed they had been instructed by their superiors to visit AMG School to verify whether the institution was compliant with county tax requirements.
According to AMG School manager John Amollo, the officers arrived at the institution in two vehicles and immediately demanded access to the school management.
“All visitors are required to report to the secretary’s office and register before proceeding. That is the school protocol, but the askaris refused to comply,” Amollo said.
He said about 18 enforcement officers entered the compound and rudely demanded to see the school manager without following laid down procedures.
“They stormed into my office while I was attending to one of the parents. They insisted they could not wait,” he said.
Amollo further alleged that one senior enforcement officer instructed a junior officer to assault the school head teacher during the confrontation.
He maintained that the institution had committed no offence and questioned why members of staff were manhandled in a learning environment in the presence of learners and parents.
During the incident, parents attending a meeting at the school reportedly rushed out to witness the commotion.
Amollo said AMG School is duly registered and complies with all requirements set by both the county and national governments. He explained that renewal of the institution’s single business permit had delayed because the county revenue department had not sent the necessary invoice to facilitate online payment.
“They only sent the invoice after the incident. We have since paid and obtained the permit,” he said.
Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association chairperson Frederick Okeyo also condemned the incident and demanded accountability from those responsible.
“The school may be privately owned, but learners and teachers are entitled to safety and dignity. We want to know who sent the officers, whose interests they were serving and why a teacher should be assaulted in a school,” Okeyo said.
He warned that similar incidents could occur in other institutions if firm disciplinary action was not taken against the officers involved.
“For such incidents to end, action must be taken against everyone who participated in assaulting the head teacher,” he added.
Mbita Kenya National Union of Teachers Executive Secretary Victor Odhiambo said the confrontation traumatized learners and disrupted normal learning activities at the institution.
Odhiambo said the union remained committed to defending the rights and welfare of all trained teachers, including those working in private schools.
Mbita East Zone Curriculum Support Officer George Ouko said the latest incident reflected a growing pattern of harassment by rogue enforcement officers in the area.
He claimed that teachers who ride motorcycles often face intimidation from county askaris manning roadblocks to enforce tax compliance.
“We have had cases of teachers reporting late because they were stopped by enforcement officers. I once witnessed a teacher being detained for hours by the same officers. Such actions have become too common. Teachers deserve respect,” Ouko said.
By Davis Langat
