Connect with us

News

MPs push for return of corporal punishment to curb student unrest

Published

2 weeks ago

on

Members of Parliament have renewed calls for a policy shift to reintroduce corporal punishment in schools as part of efforts to prevent a recurrence of student unrest and fire incidents witnessed in learning institutions across the country.

The debate was triggered by West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka, who sought a statement from the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education on measures being undertaken to stop the recurrence of fire incidents in schools within his constituency and nationwide.

“In the recent past, the country has witnessed a disturbing trend of fire outbreaks in learning institutions resulting in loss of life, destruction of property and disruption of learning. Within West Mugirango Constituency, where I am privileged to be MP, several schools have recently experienced fire incidents, raising concerns about disaster preparedness in schools,” Mogaka said.

Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss urged Parliament to prioritise thorough investigations involving the Ministry of Interior to establish the root cause of the recent wave of student unrest.

She said it was unfortunate that the eight minors charged over the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru were already before the justice system while the factors that allegedly drove them to commit the offence remained unclear.

“It’s a bit unfortunate that the girls are in the justice system. They should actually be studied, sit with psychiatrists and find out what could possess someone so young to do something so heinous. If we understand what the challenges were, we can then work on our other children in our other schools,” she said.

“If we do quick fixes, we don’t get to the bottom of it. Right now, we are dealing with the symptoms but not the root cause of the issue.”

Other lawmakers, however, proposed more drastic measures, including the reintroduction of corporal punishment in schools.

Corporal punishment was officially banned in Kenyan schools on March 13, 2001, when then Education Minister Kalonzo Musyoka issued a Gazette Notice scrapping the legal provisions that allowed caning.

The ban was later reinforced through several legal frameworks aimed at protecting children from physical and mental abuse in learning institutions.

These include the Children Act, 2001, which guarantees children protection from all forms of abuse and violence; the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, which prohibits corporal punishment; and the Basic Education Act, 2013, which expressly outlaws physical punishment and mental harassment of learners while promoting guidance and counselling.

During the debate, lawmakers called for a review of school discipline policies, accusing some parents of abdicating their responsibility to mentor their children and leaving teachers to shoulder the burden alone.

“From the time we stopped this issue of caning students, this is when we started having this problem. Caning students needs to come up again,” Bomet East MP Richard Yegon said.

Yegon argued that corporal punishment helped instil discipline in his generation and contributed to their success later in life.

“Teachers have been left alone to manage the students. We need to make sure that we come together with the teachers, talk to the students and make sure that the discipline comes back to our students,” he said.

Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed backed calls for comprehensive investigations to establish the underlying causes of indiscipline among learners and guide long-term interventions.

“The statement our colleague is seeking is very important because even after they see severe punishment being taken against their peers, other children still continue to burn schools. So there is something bad going on that needs thorough investigations,” she said.

The debate took place on the same day the Kibera Law Courts ordered the continued detention of the eight minors charged over the Utumishi Girls Academy fire until September 22, when the court is expected to rule on their bail application after considering a pre-bail report.

Lady Justice Diana Kavedza directed that the minors’ mobile phones be confiscated and barred them from accessing television, saying exposure to media coverage could further traumatise them.

“You are therefore looking at two months before I get the report so take a deep breath and rest, that ruling will be delivered in September when the court resumes from recess,” the judge ruled.

Zamzam urged parents to appreciate the role of the justice system in deterring similar offences.

She recalled the 1999 Nyeri High School tragedy, in which four prefects were locked inside their cubicle and burnt to death, as a grim reminder of the consequences of unchecked indiscipline in schools.

“Children, your parents go through a lot to get school fees, don’t go to school and become like devils. You are children who are supposed to worship God and listen to your parents and teachers,” she said.

Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu urged caution, saying student discipline is a sensitive issue that requires a comprehensive approach rather than quick fixes.

He said stakeholders across the education sector should have their respective roles reviewed to identify weaknesses in enforcing discipline.

“I see a lot of gaps in these stakeholders, and if we get it right at that point, we will be able to stop this matter because it’s not the first time it has happened. It has happened in the past, reports have been prepared, enforcement has been very poor,” he said.

Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji also attributed the recurring fire incidents to weaknesses in disaster preparedness in schools.

“Simple things such as electrical installations in schools is a problem. They have not been able to hire people such as watchmen who can see children who are misbehaving. I appeal to this House to consider capitation that has not been given to schools as a pending bill,” he said-STAR.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 14, 2026

By

The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

Continue Reading

News

Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 14, 2026

By

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

Continue Reading

News

ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

Published

15 hours ago

on

July 14, 2026

By

The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

Continue Reading

Trending