A primary school headteacher from Homa Bay and his wife, also a teacher, have been charged in court after they allegedly engaged a 9-year-old girl with the duties of a househelp.
Humphrey Muturi, the headteacher at Kuja Primary School in Homa Bay County, and his wife Catherine Gati were charged with allegedly colluding to prevent the minor from acquiring education.
The duo was arraigned in a Homa Bay court on Friday, January 15, 2022, and charged with economic exploitation of a child contrary to the Children Act number eight of 2001.
The court heard that Muturi and Gati on diverse dates between May 2021 and January 11, 2022, engaged the minor in household chores at their home in Rodi Kopany Township.
The headteacher and his wife were further accused of obstructing the girl from her education by assigning her babysitting duties during school days.
They were accused of having the 9-year-old girl take care of their baby when she should have been in school.
The minor dropped out of school in Class Two in May 2020 and moved from her parent's home in Migori County and went to leave with the couple in Rodi Kopany township.
Homa Bay Principal Magistrate Ruth Maloba ruled that the couple be released on a bond of Ksh50,000 and a surety of a similar amount each or alternative cash bail of Ksh20,000.
The case will be mentioned on January 31, 2022.
