The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has threatened to sue Health and Education Ministries over the mukumu girl scandal
KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori told the media on Wednesday that the union would pursue legal recourse against the two departments following the death of a teacher who also worked as a boarding mistress at the school.
The union also vowed to sue over what it sees as the wrongful dismissal of Mukumu Girls' Principal Frida Ndolo, calling the action a cover-up.
Misori, who blamed the two ministries for failing to provide adequate infrastructure, alleged that the situation at Mukumu had been exacerbated by overcrowding.
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He stated that they are the people's representatives and have the legal authority to sue on their behalf and that, in this case, one of their members died due to their negligence.
He went on to say that they are suing the Ministries of Health and Education on behalf of families who may not have the same voice, that they must sue and demand damages, and that they must pay, and that he knows every court in this land will listen to them.
Misori chastised Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu for replacing Principal Ndolo with Sr Jane Mmbone Wamukoya, claiming that the administration was merely searching for someone to blame for their faults.
He stated that the ministry has compliance issues; as long as no deaths or diarrhoea have been recorded, no one cares about compliance.
Adding that the teacher who died was the person who had been eating what the children had been eating
According to the Secretary General of KUPPET, the 100% transfer, which resulted in a spike in enrollment in most Western Kenyan schools, has taxed resources and caused health issues.
Forcing headteachers to retire and dissolving the board, according to KUPPET, is a cover-up. Instead of acting impulsively, Education CS Machogu should form a committee to review the safety of educational establishments.
Misori observed that punishing Madam Ndolo weakens the need to find a solution in a situation over which she had no control. KUPPET is not amused by recent trends in penalising victims for situations beyond their control.
