Family seeks justice after Grade 10 student burned with boiling water at Mumbuni Girls

The Grade 10 student says she was bullied and assaulted by a Form Three student on the night of June 9, but her mother claims the school administration and police have failed to adequately address the matter.

What was supposed to be a safe space for learning turned into a nightmare for the student after the incident at the school's hot water fetching point.

The student says she was fetching water when a Form Three student allegedly confronted her over who would fetch water first.

"Alikuja pale huwa tunachota maji, akasema apitishwe achote kwanza. She then started bullying us and shouting... So akasukuma ndoo yangu, akachota yake, venye alimaliza akaclick na akanimwagia hiyo maji moto...nikaanza kulia ndio nikachukuliwa," the student recounts.

Her mother says she received a call from the school the following morning and was asked to go there.

"Yes, nilipigiwa na Deputy, akaniambia mtoto ako unwell niende shule, kufika nikaambiwa Form Three student amechoma mtoto wangu na maji...kuona mtoto nilishtuka, alikuwa ameumia, nilianguka na kuanza kulia," the mother narrates.

According to the mother, the school administration told her to seek treatment for her daughter in Nairobi, saying the alleged perpetrator's parent would cover the medical bills.

"Hiyo safari ya Nairobi ilikuwa uchungu sana, mtoto alilia hadi tukafika town ....town kutembea ilikuwa shida....hangeweza kutembea ....kufika kwa nyumba kutoa bandages, alikuwa amechomeka miguu vibaya sana," she adds.

The mother says she reported the matter at Machakos Police Station before taking her daughter to Dandora 2 Health Centre for treatment.

She says the financial and emotional burden has since fallen entirely on her, forcing her to stop working so she can care for her daughter.

"After hapo, shule ikanyamaza, but class teacher aliwai nipigia tu mara moja, Na vile nilitafuta huyo mzazi mtoto wake alichoma mtoto wangu, aliniambia niwache kumsumbua mtoto wake alikuwa suspended," she says.

Frustrated by what she describes as a lack of action, the mother eventually withdrew her daughter from Mumbuni Girls.

However, she says the school has refused to issue a transfer letter, leaving the student's education in limbo.

"Nimepoteza kazi coz lazima nishughulikie mtoto, watoto wengine wako kwa shule but wangu ndio huyu hapa na vidonda bado hajapona hata vizuri. I want the ministry to intervene so as my child can get justice," the mother says.

We visited Mumbuni Girls Senior School seeking comment on the allegations, but our efforts did not bear fruit.

Police at Machakos Police Station say investigations into the assault are still ongoing. No arrests have been made so far.

As she continues to recover, the student hopes the matter will be resolved and that she can return to school and resume her education without losing more time at home.