Pupils describe how their teacher sexually abused them in his office
Mugae Primary School teacher Julius Mwiti, 45, when he appeared in a Meru court on March 15, 2016 charged with sexually assaulting 10 pupils. PHOTO | DARLINGTON MANYARA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Standard Four pupils who testified in court recounted a pattern of abuse where the teacher lured them the innocent girls into his office.
- The pupils informed their class teacher who summoned their parents.
- The incident was reported to the Subuiga Police Station where a female officer aided the girls in recording statements.
Five pupils on Thursday stunned a Meru court when they narrated how a teacher sexually abused them in his office.
The Standard Four pupils at Mugae Primary School, all aged 10, told Meru Chief Magistrate Lucy Ambasi how their English teacher Julius Mwiti, 45, frequently assaulted them before they reported the matter to their parents.
The first girl to give evidence said: “The teacher used to undress me whenever I presented my homework in his office. In March this year, when I presented my homework, the teacher instructed me to sit and wait for him as he marked my book.
“While I was in the office, he undressed me and put his hand in my private parts as he marked the homework with the other hand. He instructed me to remain calm.”
She added that after the ordeal, she felt a lot of pain and reported the matter to her class teacher, who told her to inform her parents.
She told the court that her parents took her to Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital for treatment.
The P3 form tabled in court by the prosecution indicated that she had been assaulted.
Another girl said the teacher had a tendency to call her to his office especially during break time where he undressed and assaulted her.
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“What l can remember is that Mr Mwiti has assaulted me more than four times, the last being when he called me as I was going to the toilet.
“He used to frequently call me and [sexually abuse me] after undressing me. Whenever he needed me he could send a fellow pupil to come and look for me so that l could go to his office,” said the second girl to testify.
The third girl to testify told the magistrate that she realized she was not the only assault victim after several of her classmates also complained about the teacher.
“The other girls told me the same had happened to them when they were called into his office. We told our class teacher, who summoned our parents,” she said.
It was then that the matter was reported at the Subuiga Police Station.
Their statements were recorded by investigating officer Rosemary Njoki.
The last pupil to be assaulted on March 8 said the teacher told her to lie on a table together with another pupil before he removed their clothes.
The prosecution, led by Margaret Matheka, said it would present 15 witnesses.
On Thursday, defence lawyer George Mugambi told the court he had a severe headache and sought an adjournment.
The hearing continues on July 18, when the remaining girls and five parents will testify.
Mr Mwiti is out on a Sh1 million bond, with a surety of a similar amount.
(Editing by Joel Muinde)
