Teacher Arrested After Pupil’s Death
A primary school teacher in Kilifi County has been taken into custody following the tragic death of a 15-year-old student, who reportedly died from injuries inflicted during corporal punishment.
Preliminary police reports indicate that the incident occurred on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Gongoni Primary School in Kilifi South Sub-County.
During the last lesson before games, the teacher, Mr. Ian Tembo, allegedly instructed Grade 8 students to kneel before he administered corporal punishment.
Some pupils were caned, while others were reportedly struck on the head.
Among those who showed remarkable discipline was Anestine Dzidza Tunje, who made her way back home later that afternoon.
The next day, she started to experience persistent headaches that only seemed to get worse over the weekend.
She was taken to Kilifi County Hospital for treatment, but despite the medical efforts, she sadly passed away on September 25, 2025.
Two days after her death, the girl’s family reported the incident to the authorities, which led to an investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Mr. Mwavuna was taken into custody on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at the Mtwapa Police Station following reports that a student died after being subjected to corporal punishment at Gongoni Primary School in Kilifi South Sub-County.
Investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that they are pursuing additional court orders to keep the suspect in custody as inquiries continue. The probe will focus on gathering medical reports, interviewing witnesses, and reviewing events that led to the pupil’s untimely death.
Kilifi South Sub-County Police Commander Hassan Kochale confirmed the arrest and assured the public that detectives are working diligently to establish the connection between the punishment and the fatal outcome.
“The suspect is in custody, and we shall be seeking more time from the court to complete investigations before the case proceeds to trial,” Kochale stated
Teacher Arrested After Pupil’s Death
