Mombasa: Standard 7 pupil hospitalised after beating for allegedly stealing chapatis

Coast Regional Education Director Adan Hussein has ordered the closure of the Gremon Education Centre after a pupil was injured for allegedly stealing chapati during dinner.

Police have also arrested Nancy Gachewa, the director of the school in Bamburi, Mombasa County, in connection with an assault case of a Standard 7 pupil.

According to the parents, the minor was assaulted after he picked five chapatis instead of the stipulated one chapati during dinner on January 23.

Agnes Mwangi, the pupil’s mother, said: “Madam akaniambia hii ni kesi kidogo, nikamwambia ni sawa, nikiangalia kile kinasemekana ni kitu kidogo…mtoto wangu kusimama hawezi, mpaka ashikiliwe, ukimwangalia mgongo anakaa amechomwa…ako na alama kila mahali ya vidonda.”

According to the parents, the pupil was reportedly kicked and whipped using water pipes and scalded with hot water.

The director of the school is further accused of instructing fellow pupils to beat him as punishment for the offense of taking extra chapati.

“Yaani huyo kijana alimpiga akapumzika akamwambia tukutane tena baadaye, na walipompiga hawakunijulisha mimi kama mzazi, director alisema nisijulishwe kabisa. Hakuna kitu inaumiza kama nikuleetee mtoto akiwa mzima alafu unirejeshee akiwa kiwete,” added Ms. Mwangi.

The minor sustained serious injuries that left his kidney and private parts damaged.

“Sijui kama atarudi mtoto, maana figo yake moja imeathirika..sahii imesemekana ataanzishiwa dialysis, ilhali mimi nilipeleka mtoto shuleni akiwa mzima,” said the boy’s mother.

Dr. Nabil Varwani said: “He had multiple wounds…they brought him here with infected wounds with acute kidney injury.

Coast Regional Educational Director Adan Hussein has ordered the school shut down.

Police have since arrested the director of the institution who is being held at the Kadzandani Police Station.

This is as fresh details emerged that the primary school was registered as a secondary school and doesn't have the requisite registration documents as required by law.