The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has placed Peter Ayiro, a teacher at Alliance Girls High School, on a 30-day compulsory leave as investigations into serious allegations of sexual misconduct intensify.
The move, announced on Tuesday, July 25, by Acting TSC CEO Evaleen Mitei, follows a disturbing exposé by Africa Uncensored titled The Teacher and the System. The investigative piece unearthed a trail of alleged abuse by the teacher spanning more than two decades.
TSC said the leave would allow for an impartial investigation, free from interference, and assured the public that the safety of learners remains a top priority. The school’s administration has also confirmed it is working closely with authorities.
There has been mounting pressure on TSC to act since the documentary was broadcast, with damning claims by the former teachers and students accusing the teacher who was also a patron of the Christian Union of using his position to manipulate and groom girls under his care.
Responding to the public outcry, Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has called for the arrest of the teacher, stating that the Ministry is in close liaison with law enforcement agencies to ensure action is taken.
"That teacher is going to be punished. We’ve spoken with the TSC and other stakeholders to ensure his arrest,” said Bitok during a public event in Nandi County.The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) also weighed in, with chairperson Christine Kungu issuing a statement on July 8 criticizing the management of the school for not acting earlier.
Kungu called for legal and disciplinary action to be taken against the teacher and also against all those who may have helped to cover up the abuse.
Kungu urged the Ministry of Education to enforce explicit national policies on handling sexual and gender-based violence in schools to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Legal experts say the suspect teacher is facing multiple charges under the Sexual Offences Act.Lawyer Danstan Omari noted that some allegations, if proven, could attract sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison.
If the teacher is found guilty, he will be at risk of being struck off the TSC register and permanently barred from the teaching profession
As the investigation opens, attention moves both to TSC and law enforcement agencies on how trasnparent will they act to ensure justice for survivors and prevent future abuse within Kenya’s learning institutions.
