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{
    "id": 1212995,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1212995/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 347,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tobiko",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(d) to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, all forms of violence, inhuman treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour;” The rights of children have also been protected and preserved by a number of legislations, including the Children’s Act (2022) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Moreover, both the Education Act and Children's Act have given clear guidelines on how to correct pupils when they go wrong in the course of attending school. While I agree that it is important to mould and correct children, whether at home or in school, to ensure they grow knowing what is right and wrong as they are being brought up, this correction should not be punitive, embarrassing or inflicting pain and or to some extent, cause grievous bodily harm. There are three cases that have occurred over the recent past which have greatly disturbed me and have led to this Statement. The first incident is that of a widely circulated video clip of a scene, allegedly in a school where teachers supervised a traumatic sexual molestation of young children against each other. The said clip drew countrywide attention to what may be happening to our children at the hands of perverted grown-ups who are expected to be protectors, role models and morally upright individuals. The second one was an incident in Kuria where one young girl who had run away from home in order to escape from being forced to undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and had been under protection of a school. When she decided to go back home at the end of the holidays to prepare to return to school, she ended up being badly assaulted, whipped and publicly humiliated by young men allegedly under the direction of her own brother. She had been accused of being a disgrace to her family for refusing to undergo the FGM practice and opted to pursue education when schools resumed. This incident is unacceptable as the Government has a whole department funded by taxpayers to champion anti-FGM practices among communities and to protect girls threatened by these traditions, cultures and rituals. A third incident that came to the public attention happened in Kisii area where a young man was bound up with ropes and whipped in front of a girls' parade in school as punishment. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the scary question is, how many more graphic, horrible crimes against the rights of children have gone unnoticed, unreported or have been intentionally covered up? Whereas the above incidents may appear isolated and remote, it has prompted my concern regarding what kind of punishment is right. What amounts to adequate correction, both within schools and in community environments? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I condemn these heinous acts in the strongest terms possible. They have, obviously, traumatized the victims and may have permanent effects in their lives. Teachers, boards of management members, parents and the society in general should be dependable role models, mentors and good moral champions to ensure such incidences do not continue happening in our society."
}