• Nyamira governor aspirant Kemoni said school arson is an underlying symptom of deeper social problems that need to be quickly resolved to stem anarchy.
• Political leaders called for the return of caning, to stem increased school burnings. Many respected members of society were caned and it didn't kill them, they said.
Image: FAITH MATETE
Kisii and Nyamira leaders want the government to convene an urgent stakeholders meeting to discuss reintroducing caning to end runaway arson and indiscipline.
They want the Education ministry to lift the ban on corporal punishment to curb the surge in school burnings.
At least 17 arson fires have damaged schools around the country since July.
Nyamira governorship aspirant James Kemoni said school arson is an underlying symptom of a deeper social problem that needs to be quickly sorted to stem anarchy.
"There is a grave challenge of students burning books, torching dormitories and walking out of on their teachers," said Kemoni.
Kemoni who is seeking the ODM ticket urged the government to fund counselling and chaplaincy programmes as a matter of priority.
"It was to introduce chaplaincy and counselling, which to date have not been effected. Let the Education ministry follow through and ensure spiritual counseling that can plan play an important part in ending this madness in our schools, Kemoni stated.
Kemoni, an urban planner by profession, said it is time the ban on caning was looked at afresh. "Reintroducing measured corporal punishment is the way to go to stem this lawlessness, otherwise we are staring at anarchy in the education sector," he told journalists at a meeting in Keroka on Monday.
During a visit to Nyabururu Primary Boarding in Kisii in December last year, Education CS George Magoha said lifting the ban on caning was being considered.
God licenses use of the cane
Abagusi Elders Council secretary Samuel Bosire said God licenses the use of a cane to instil discipline in children. He said the Bible is never out of date in giving answers to problems humanity was facing.
He said many of the people driving the economy today went through a "rigorous system and never died of corporal punishment".
On Monday Kemoni urged Magogha to make good his threat and bring back the cane."Bring it back if it is the only way to stop this madness we are seeing all over," Kemoni said.
He was addressing hundreds of supporters who had turned out to back his candidature for governor. Similar sentiments were echoed by Abaguii Elders Council secretary Samuel Bosire who said God licenses the use of a cane to instil discipline in children.
He said the Bible is never out of date in giving answers to problems humanity was facing. "If we have decided to run away from such spiritually discerned injunctions, then we must be prepared for incidents as these as well," Bosire said.
At least three schools—two in Kisii and one in Nyamira—have been torched in the last one week. Bosire said domestic violence and instability in many families may also be a factor in school indiscipline.
Bosire said there's a lack of role models in society in the face of expanded freedoms.
"What do you expect in situations where these learners see people who should be role models roll around on roads as they agitate for their rights? They will do the same wherever they are studying, too," he told journalists in Kisii.
(Edited by V. Graham)