Kilifi County, Kenya – October 2, 2025 – Grief has engulfed Kilifi South after 15-year-old Anestine Dzidza Tunje, a Grade Eight pupil at Gongoni Primary School, died following an alleged beating by her teacher.
According to her family, Anestine developed severe headaches after being caned on Friday, September 19, 2025. Her father, Alex Tunje, said she came home complaining of pain but initially declined to reveal the cause.
A Struggle for Her Life
Days later, Anestine’s condition worsened, forcing her parents to rush her to Vipingo Health Centre.
“When we arrived at Vipingo, my daughter was unable to talk. She was injected with painkillers but her condition deteriorated,” her father recounted.
She was referred to Kilifi County Referral Hospital, where she was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Sadly, she succumbed while undergoing treatment on September 25, 2025.
Parents Accuse Police of Inaction
The grieving parents have accused authorities of dragging their feet in the matter, alleging that the teacher responsible for the assault is yet to be arrested.
The case has reignited concerns about corporal punishment in Kenyan schools, which was outlawed under the Children Act and the Basic Education Act.
A Call for Justice
Civil rights groups and education stakeholders are calling for urgent action and accountability. The incident adds to growing cases of student abuse and excessive punishment in schools. This has raised questions about how well the ban on corporal punishment is being enforced.
