Violence Erupts as KUPPET Protest Over MP’s Harassment of Teacher in Kisumu

A peaceful protest by officials and teachers under the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) turned chaotic on Monday when the group was violently attacked at Kindu Secondary School in Kisumu East Sub-county. The teachers were demonstrating against Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabir’s recent verbal attack on a local teacher—a moment that was captured on video and widely circulated.

Led by KUPPET Kisumu Executive Secretary Zablon Awange, the educators arrived at the school in a union-branded bus to show solidarity with their colleague. However, the situation quickly escalated when irate members of the public began pelting the bus with stones. Attempts by the teachers to exit the vehicle for safety were met with physical assault, including beatings with canes.

Awange condemned the attack, calling it a grave threat not only to teachers but to the integrity of the education system itself. “This attack is not just an assault on teachers but an affront to the very fabric of our education system,” he said, urging authorities to take firm action.

Trapped within the school compound and fearing for their lives, some teachers took cover inside the school while others fled into nearby bushes. Quick intervention by officers from Gita Police Station helped prevent further violence and restore calm.

In the aftermath, KUPPET is calling for the arrest of those involved in the attack and demanding that the government ensure educators’ safety, particularly their right to protest peacefully without fear of intimidation or harm.

MP Shakeel Shabir has since issued a public apology, attributing his verbal outburst to emotional distress. However, the teacher at the center of the controversy has retained legal counsel, who have formally written to the MP seeking an official apology and an admission of liability.

This incident highlights growing concerns about the safety and dignity of educators in Kenya and raises questions about the protection of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

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