Striking students a reflection of Kenya’s culture of violence
An angry youth.
What you need to know:
- Society talks of indiscipline in students yet they practise corporal punishment, which was abolished in 2001.
- As we grow, the children who were whipped become principals, and they unleash this pain on another generation.
Concerned about the rising cases of students going on strike and destroying property, I set out to talk to my age mates from schools that have gone on strike and I was surprised at how our childhood is linked to these acts of violence.
They told me that there were genuine concerns that they had raised with the administration, the same that the students that attended those schools raised 46 years ago.
In response, the school administration ignored or beat them to a pulp. These concerns include poor infrastructure like collapsing roofs, being cramped in dormitories and living in unsanitary conditions.
My age mates said that there were no communication channels between the administration and the students. Imagine being beaten for just wanting to talk.
Caning
Many people have explanations for the strikes such as indiscipline on the part of the students, which the obvious solution for many adults in Kenya is caning.
I have very traumatic recollections of pain inflicted upon me using leather whip and PVC pipes.
One time, a teacher threw a rock at me in high school. I still do not see how that violence solved the case of alleged indiscipline in me.
Society talks of indiscipline in students yet they practise corporal punishment, which was abolished in 2001.
So much for indiscipline. I do not think the teacher threw the stone at me to correct my indiscipline. He wanted to hurt me, to inflict pain.
Political subjects
Our parents, teachers and government have buried their heads in the sand and have failed to listen to us. I do not understand why society is afraid of truly making this a topic of discussion, as it does with political subjects such as BBI.
As we grow, the children who were whipped become principals, and they unleash this pain on another generation.
I am a firm believer in punishment if it deters negative behaviour and also to shape one’s character. Punishment in Kenya just to inflict pain.
My wish is that education stakeholders are reading this and are considering attuning the school environment to the needs of the learners.
