Government re-introduces caning in Kenyan schools
August 4, 2008
Written by kenyanobserver, in KENYA
In what appears to be a knee-jerk reaction to the recent school violence that caught everyone by surprise, the Kenyan cabinet has decided to re-introduce caning in schools.Caveat: I was a regular recipient of caning when I was in school in Kenya and I will say that it DID NOT stop me from trying to impress my friends with pranks. What kept me straight was not the cane, but the people around me who cared enough to intervene and make me accountable – family, relatives, neighbors, pastors, coaches and so on.Of all the people, Kenya’s Energy minister, Kiraitu Murungi, was quoted by the Nation newspaper, saying“We met as Cabinet last week and what we observed is that there is too much democracy that is quickly descending into anarchy. There is too much freedom in this country and what we are witnessing in schools is just a reflection of the larger society.â€
W-H-A-T ??
Since when did Murungi become an expert in the management of teenagers in high school?Is this the same Kiraitu who belittled women with his comments and brushed aside his involvement in one of the largest scandals in Kenya’s history like it was a fly to be swatted and forgotten who now claims moral authority over the future of Kenya’s children?The problems with Kenya’s schools are complex and the reaction from the cabinet is not well thought out and will lead to even more riots. Times have changed. It needs parents, experts and the community at large to come together and forge a roadmap towards a solution, not 40 over-paid bureaucrats whose expertise may not serve Kenya’s students well.
“There is too much freedom in this country and what we are witnessing in schools is just a reflection of the larger society.â€With such attitudes among our so-called leaders, you can expect worse restrictions to come. When Michuki rules came in 2004, people cheered. I told my friends worse is to come but everyone was happy that matatu people had been, “tamed.” Next was the ban on plastic bags. 10,000 jobs were lost but Kenyans cheered as though they didn’t have a responsibility to dispose of plastic waste responsibly. After this, came the ban on smoking. People cheered again and I warned my friends that its only a matter of time before you are stopped from smoking in your own home. The rules that came into force this July did exactly that. Kenyans should learn to cherish freedom for everyone. When freedoms get eroded one by one, sooner or later, its gonna affect you.