City teacher lands in hot soup for caning Class One pupil
A primary school teacher has been found guilty of unleashing corporal punishment to a Class One pupil and injuring him on the head four years ago.
Ms Catherine Karanja was teaching at Vetlab Primary School in Kabete in 2014 when she assaulted the pupil for reporting to school late.
She was charged for causing grievous harm to a minor but the court found her guilty of assault.
Four witnesses testified in the case among them the child’s parents who had escorted him to school when he was beaten by her teacher using a stick.
‘STRAIGHTFORWARD CASE’
“This is a straightforward case. You contravened the law and guidelines of your profession. You went ahead to mete corporal punishment to a pupil knowing that the same had been banned,” Elizabeth Juma, the magistrate said in her judgment.
She said the child identified the teacher positively, the parents saw her attack the child and a doctor’s report indicated that he was assaulted using a stick causing injuries to the head.
“You did not bother to enquire from the parents why the child reported to school late. You should have given him alternative punishment as required by the law,” the magistrate said.
He rejected Ms Karanja’s assertion that the child’s parents had complained severally that their son had been attacked by fellow pupils.
REMORSE
In mitigation, Ms Karanja said she was remorseful and pleaded for a non- custodial sentence so as to save her job.
“I am sorry for what happened. It was an unfortunate incident in my 30 year service as a teacher. I will not repeat the same,” she said.
The mother of two told the court that she is a widow and sole breadwinner of her family.
“I have since been transferred from the school to a hardship area. I am remorseful,” she said through a lawyer.
The court ordered for a pre- sentence report to be presented on July 13 when she will be sentenced.