Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana has condemned the increasing cases of systemic sexual abuse and misconduct by teachers in girls’ boarding schools across the country.
The legislator raised the issue following the shocking revelations by the Africa Uncensored Deep Dive newsletter, accusing Mr. Peter Ayiro, a teacher at Alliance Girls High School, of alleged sexual abuse and misconduct against minors.
More than two dozen brave young women and girls came forward to share their harrowing survivor experiences of alleged sexual abuse stretching back over 20 years at the hands of the school’s former Christian Union patron.
While making a personal Statement on the floor of the House on Thursday, 17th July, Senator Hamida termed the exposé deeply troubling, bearing in mind that the alleged pattern of grooming, emotional manipulation, and inappropriate conduct by Mr Ayiro spanned for more than two decades.
The Chairperson of the Kenya Women Senators Association wondered how all the abuse could have happened under the watch of the school’s administration, despite multiple principals having served at the institution over this period and despite consistent rumours, concerns, and warnings.
She blamed institutional failures for allowing Mr. Ayiro’s behaviour to go unchecked, since former school administrators, teachers, and even chaplains reportedly raised red flags, yet no meaningful disciplinary action or formal investigation was ever initiated.
"The Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which is mandated to uphold professional conduct and discipline in our schools, appears to have either failed to act or turned a blind eye.
Girls' boarding schools are meant to be safe spaces for learning and character formation. Yet, this case reveals a pattern of grooming and predatory behaviour that appears to have been institutionally tolerated or overlooked-raising the question of how many similar cases exist across our schools but remain hidden beneath silence, shame, or fear,” Senator Hamida wondered.
She submitted that there may be widespread failures in enforcing ethical boundaries between teachers and students in learning institutions across the country and asked the Teachers' Service Commission to urgently review its internal safeguards, reporting structures, and whistle-blower protections about misconduct in schools.
“The culture of silence, protectionism, and spiritual manipulation in school-based religious spaces must be examined to ensure students' safety and dignity are upheld.
The bravery of the survivors who came forward to tell their stories cannot go unnoticed. We owe it to them – and to every child in our schools – to ensure that systems of accountability are not just on paper, but actively working,” said Senator Hamida Kibwana.
