Meru: High School Student Beaten by Prefects Over Alleged Ksh.600 Theft

A mother is seeking justice against school prefects at Kaaga Boys High School in Meru County who brutally assaulted her 17-year-old son.

The teenager, a Form 4 student, was set to sit his KCSE this year but has since refused to go back to school for fear of his life following the incident on June 5.

According to reports, the victim was attacked by prefects over claims of stealing Ksh. 600 from a Form 1 student, an accusation in which evidence was not brought forth. 

The boy recounted that they waited until nighttime to confront him, beating him for over an hour.

"Walinichapa for more than one hour…walinipiga hadi kwa ribs na macho," adding that the prefects included dorm captains and dining hall officials.

The attack happened at about 1 a.m., after which the student managed to escape and walked for over 7 kilometers to Meru town. 

He was found by a Good Samaritan, who helped him report the matter to Meru Police Station.

The mother of the boy, Lilian Nyabuto, was also unhappy about how the school handled the situation.

File image of Kaaga Boys High Scool in Meru

"The school never informed me of the incident," she explained, adding that she was only called by a stranger. 

Medical reports indicated that blunt objects, punches, and kicks were used in the attack

leaving the victim with serious injuries, including bruises on his limbs, chest injuries, and an eye injury. 

Ms. Nyabuto further accused the school's principal of trying to cover up the assault by asking her son to lie to the investigators that he injured himself while jumping the fence. 

“After the hospital, the principal told my son to lie to investigators that he got the injuries while jumping over the fence and not while in school,” said Ms. Nyabuto.

The incident was reported at Meru Police Station on the morning of June 6 under OB.15/6/6/2024.

However, according to the victim and his mother the authorities are yet to take action on the incident.

With the KCSE exams fast approaching, the boy's education future is now in jeopardy, as the perpetrators remain in school.