Homa Bay: Head teacher, wife arraigned for engaging 9-year-old girl as house help

A primary school head teacher and his wife, who is also a teacher, have been charged with allegedly colluding to deter a 9-year-old girl from acquiring education.

Humphrey Muturi, the head teacher of Kuja Primary School in Homa Bay County, and his wife Catherine Gati were accused of engaging the girl with duties of a house help.

The two were arraigned in a Homa Bay court and charged with economic exploitation of a child contrary to the Children Act number eight of 2001.

The court heard that on diverse dates between May 2021 to January 11, 2021, Muturi and Gati engaged the minor in house chores in Rodi township against the law.

They reportedly interfered with the child's right to education by engaging her in babysitting during school days.

The couple is accused of engaging the girl in taking care of their baby at a time when the minor ought to have been going to school.

The minor dropped out of school in Class Two in May last year when she left her parents' home in Migori County to live with the couple in Rodi Kopany township.

Homa Bay Principal Magistrate Ruth Maloba ruled that the accused persons be released on a bond of Ksh.50,000 and a surety of a similar amount each or alternative cash bail of Ksh.20,000.

The case has been scheduled for mention on January 31, 2022.