Parliament is contemplating re-introducing corporal punishment in schools on the backdrop of rampant school fires, Gem Member of Parliament Elisha Odhiambo has said.
Odhiambo said it was high time the question of corporal punishment was reviewed following increased arson cases in schools that have led to the death of innocent students.
He was speaking at the Wagai Primary School grounds in Gem Constituency, Siaya County, during the disbursement of the education bursary by the area national government constituency development fund (NG-CDF).
The Gem MP said the country must not compromise on discipline within society and called on politicians to be on the forefront in championing this agenda.
“We must have a disciplined society,” he said, adding, “It is alarming that most politicians are quiet and it is only the President who has spoken out about this.”
The legislator at the same time challenged the church and other religious bodies to come up strongly and talk to parents and children on the need to address the decaying morality in the country.
“I am calling on all churches in Kenya to have a conversation around our children burning schools,” he said, adding, “During our days in school, we never did what is happening now.”
He told parents to rise to the occasion and take up their parental responsibility.
“If in school teachers are not allowed to cane students, then all parents must cane their children when they come home,” Odhiambo said, adding, “I am who I am because I was caned and disciplined.”
The MP called on Siaya residents to rally behind President William Ruto, who, he added, was committed to the development of all corners of the country.
“We are supporting him because he is the only president who knows equity and practices it so that the whole country moves together in development,” he said.
By Philip Onyango
