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{
    "id": 573463,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/573463/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 77,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Karaba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 232,
        "legal_name": "Daniel Dickson Karaba",
        "slug": "daniel-karaba"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have a statement to issue pursuant to Standing Order No.208(3) and the Second Schedule of the Senate Standing Orders. The Committee is mandated to consider all matters related to education and training. Pursuant to this provision, on Wednesday 1st July, 2015, Sen. Nabwala requested for a statement from the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Education regarding the rampant cases of child abuse by teachers in Kenyan schools. The Senator requested responses to the following: (1) Explain whether the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is aware of the ever increasing incidents of sexual abuse and child molestation by teachers and the reasons for such escalation. (2) Provide details of such cases which have been reported to the Ministry or other agencies in the last five years, indicating the actions taken in each case. (3) Confirm that some of the cases have been settled out of court and what the Ministry has done in such instances to ensure that those involved are apprehended and disciplined accordingly. (4) Explain the measures taken by the Ministry to ensure the menace of sexual offences against students in schools is completely eradicated. I beg to reply as follows: (1) I am fully aware of the incidents of abuse and molestation of pupils and students by some of their teachers which have been reported through electronic and print media. It is unfortunate that these heinous and barbaric acts are being perpetrated by the very persons entrusted with the care of the same children they are molesting. Apparently, most if not all cases of child molestation are never reported to the Ministry directly, maybe because of the nature of the crime requiring immediate action. Most are either reported to school heads where the learners go to school, the children’s department or directly to law enforcing agencies for action. However, the Ministry has consulted with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on the subject matter and established that though the reports have continued to feature in the media, incidents of child molestation has shown a decline in the data collected for 2014/2015 from the numbers reported in 2013/2014. This is informed by the measures taken by the schools management, parents, guardians and law abiding citizens where the perpetrators have been reported to law enforces, arraigned in court and charged; deterring many would be perpetrators from making such moves. The Ministry, in its circulars to schools has and will continue to stress on the need for every head teacher to ensure that the learning environment is made secure and conducive for the children. Anyone found violating the rules, including the teachers, will be disciplined accordingly, including being jailed if not dismissed from the service. (2) A copy of the data compiled by the TSC, being the custodian of data provided by the schools on cases of teachers reported to have abused and molested learners for the The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}