The Association of Junior Secondary School Teachers (KEJUSTA) has urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to take disciplinary measures against Dickens Omenda, the head teacher of Nyanchoka DEB, for physically assaulting Junior Secondary School (JSS) teacher Vincent Nyamanga Onyancha.
Following the attack, Vincent Onyancha reported being slapped and kicked in front of his students due to an alleged case of lateness.
“I was a little late to school and the headteacher came in to class and beat me while I was teaching. He kicked me and slapped me, then dragged me to his office and continued to descend on me with blows,” Onyancha said.
KEJUSTA, in a letter addressed to TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia and copied to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, highlighted multiple complaints from teachers regarding harassment, violence, and intimidation by head teachers.
The letter specifically referenced an incident in Nyamira earlier in the week, where Nyamanga sustained injuries from an assault by Omenda and required hospitalization for several days.
The association emphasized that teachers on probation are particularly vulnerable to such mistreatment, as they may hesitate to report incidents out of fear of retaliation.
To address this issue, KEJUSTA has called on the TSC to conduct an independent and thorough investigation into head teachers’ conduct and implement necessary disciplinary measures to prevent further cases of harassment.
In their statement, KEJUSTA proposed that TSC deploy officials to JSS institutions to oversee teachers’ welfare and examine claims of mistreatment. They stressed the need for well-defined policies to shield teachers from any form of retaliation, particularly those still under probation who may fear speaking out due to concerns about job security.
Additionally, they have suggested a nationwide sensitization program aimed at educating head teachers on the importance of professionalism, dignity, and respect in leadership.
Meanwhile, officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) publicly condemned the assault while addressing journalists in Ikonge. KUPPET insisted that legal action be taken against the head teacher, warning that teachers would stage a boycott if no action is implemented.
Confirming the development, Nyamira County TSC Director Erick Magak stated that the case had been received and an official investigation was underway.
