What action is the Ministry of Education taking?
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has confirmed that the government is moving swiftly to arrest and prosecute a teacher from Alliance Girls High School who is accused of grooming and sexually exploiting students. Speaking at a Thanksgiving event in Nandi County, Bitok stated that the Ministry of Education has already engaged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure the teacher is interdicted and held accountable.
“That teacher is going to be punished. We have talked to TSC and all the other stakeholders to ensure that he is arrested,” Bitok said. He emphasized that the government is committed to safeguarding learners and making schools safe environments for every child.
Is this an isolated case or a bigger issue?
PS Bitok stressed that the problem extends beyond Alliance Girls, warning that similar behavior in any school in Kenya would be dealt with decisively.
“It is not only in Alliance. Even in any other school in the country, that behaviour must stop forthwith,” he said.
“We are not going to condone any behaviour where teachers or any other stakeholder in schools take advantage of our children. We want to condemn in the strongest terms possible any conduct by teachers, staff, or anyone in the school community who seeks to exploit students sexually. As the government, we are saying such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
What sparked the public backlash and protests?
Bitok’s remarks follow intense public outrage triggered by an Africa Uncensored investigation that detailed years of abuse by a long-serving teacher and Christian Union patron at Alliance Girls. The exposé accused him of grooming students through spiritual manipulation, organizing private dinners, and exploiting his religious influence, with some cases dating back to 2018.
Over two dozen former students, teachers, and staff spoke out, alleging institutional silence despite formal complaints filed in 2018 and 2021. The disturbing revelations led to protests by Alliance Girls alumni demanding justice and reforms.
Women’s rights organization FIDA Kenya called the findings “shocking” and cited them as a sign of institutional failure. FIDA is now calling for transparent investigations, mandatory gender-based violence policies in schools, and the establishment of safe and accessible reporting systems for students nationwide.
By Lucly Anyanje
