School Suspends 15 Students For Refusing To Bathe
In an unsettling turn of events, the Commission of Administrative Justice (the Ombudsman) has been obliged to intervene after 15 Form Two pupils were suspended for speaking out against unsanitary conditions and inadequate services at their school.
The parents of the pupils complained to the Commission that the principal suspended their children from school after they rioted about being forced to bathe in unclean rainwater and eat unsanitary food.
The students had also voiced additional concerns, such as the rejection of supplementary tuition despite their parents having paid Ksh1,500 per term since their admission to Form One.
On July 17, 2024, the parents of the pupils were summoned to the school to pick up their children who had been suspended without receiving a suspension letter or indicating when they would be allowed to return to school.
Students Readmitted Unconditionally Following Ombudsman Intervention. pic.twitter.com/FO04MGcugp
— Ombudsman Kenya (@KenyasOmbudsman) November 19, 2024
“The students are still at home without suspension letters and no communication from the school’s principal regarding when they are to resume,” read part of the letter from the parents to the Ombudsman.
“This is an infringement of the children’s rights to education not to mention the lack of extra tuition services paid for by the parents.”
The parents were forced to seek the commission’s assistance after their children had spent almost five months at home as a result of the extraordinary ban.
“We the parents are requesting for the Commission’s urgent intervention to have the matters resolved and the students readmitted back to the school to continue with their education,” the letter by the parents continued.
Following the Commission’s intervention, the students were readmitted to school five months after their suspension.
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“The Commission wishes to draw your attention to Article 47(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 on Fair Administrative Action and particularly the provision that provides that the Administrative action be lawful, expeditious, reasonable, and procedurally fair,” read the letter to the principal from the commission.
According to the Commission, suspending students without a suspension letter and then issuing suspension letters months later violates the principles of the Constitution.
The Education Ministry, through the PS, directed the Embu County Director of Education to conduct an investigation and report on the incident.
“The Ministry carried out investigations, and the principal was instructed to readmit all the 15 girls unconditionally and ensure that future disciplinary cases are handled without unnecessary delays,” read the letter from the PS.
School Suspends 15 Students For Refusing To Bathe
