The teacher, who was murdered in Nyakach, Kisumu county, did not show or share any domestic violence case with colleagues prior to her killing.
Colleagues said Mercy Dache never shared with them whether she was undergoing any form of violence.
Dache, a mother of three, was allegedly attacked last week on Monday, May 22, over a domestic quarrel.
She was teaching CRE and Geography at Thurdibuoro Secondary School.
School principal, Joshua Miyawa, said the teacher looked okay and in a normal mood when she left the school at 6pm for home, not far from the school on Monday.
“We even talked and she was very fine. She did not report to us any form of domestic violence or give any indication that she was undergoing domestic violence or gender-based violence,” Miyawa said.
He said he got a call from the husband to the teacher that he wanted to be assisted with a vehicle to take her to the hospital on the fateful night.
“One of the teachers volunteered and rushed her to Katito medical centre before she was referred to Bliss medical hospital in Kisumu where she succumbed on Tuesday," he said.
Miyawa narrated that he reported the matter to police who visited the scene. He condoled with the family, terming the demise of Mercy as a big loss as she was an asset to the education sector.
“We are condoling with the families as we organise for burial. We hope the police will bring justice to the family,” the principal said.
He has appealed to the students to remain calm as they come to the terms with the incident.
Kenya Women of Teachers Kisumu branch coordinator Eunice Ogolla called for a thorough investigation into the killing.
She said teachers are silently undergoing sexual and gender-based violence, which should be collectively addressed by stakeholders.
“We are going to work closely with the Teachers Service Commission to establish branches and sectors to counsel teachers on mental health and gender based violence in silence,” she said.
This, Ogolla said, will help reduce cases of GBV-related deaths in the society. She called on couples to co-exist and live peacefully through dialogue.
Ogolla said Kewota has several counsellors who will undertake pro bono counselling services for teachers who suffer psychologically because of the GBV they undergo in their homes.
Nyakach subcounty police commander Daniel Chacha said the suspect was arrested at Bliss Medical Centre in Kisumu on Tuesday.
“We received reports from the school principal that one of his teachers had been attacked at her residence,” Chacha said.
He said the suspect had visited the wife at her residence before a domestic quarrel ensued.
“The preliminary reports from the house help indicate that the suspect had traveled from Nairobi to visit them,” he said.
Chacha said the suspect was in police custody with investigations into the matter ongoing.
