The tragic dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County that claimed the lives of 16 students has once again placed the issue of discipline in Kenyan schools under intense public scrutiny. As the country mourns and seeks answers, a fresh debate has emerged over whether corporal punishment should be reintroduced as a tool for maintaining order in learning institutions.

Among those pushing for its return is Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, who says he is preparing a bill to amend existing education laws and allow teachers to cane students. According to the senator, the removal of corporal punishment weakened discipline in schools and left teachers with limited options when dealing with unruly learners.

He has challenged parents who oppose corporal punishment to take greater responsibility for disciplining their children outside the school environment.

”Mimi nawatangazia wakenya kwamba tayari nimetengeneza mswada  wa kubadilisha sheria ya masomo, ile kitu ilikuwa imeondolewa na bunge lililopita irudi. Tunataka discipline irudi kwa shule. Mtoto akiwa mkora apewe kiboko akwende huko! Na wewe mzazi kama hutaki mtoto wako mwalimu achape mtoto wako chukua mtoto wako enda naye nyumbani acha wengine wasome,” he said.

Khalwale argues that Kenya cannot effectively address problems such as school arson, destruction of property and other forms of student misconduct without restoring stricter disciplinary measures.

”Haya mambo ya watoto kuchoma shule lazima sisi wote tutatue hiyo shida. Rais William Ruto huwezi kusuluhisha matatizo ya shule kama huwezi kusuluhisha maswala ya watoto wanauziwa dawa za kulevya, bangi na pombe,” the senator said.

Khalwale’s remarks have generated widespread discussion across the country, with some Kenyans supporting the proposal and others opposing it.

Corporal punishment was officially banned in Kenyan schools in 2001 through regulations issued by the Ministry of Education. The ban was reinforced by the Children’s Act of 2001 and later by Section 36 of the Basic Education Act, 2013. Kenya’s Constitution, adopted in 2010, guarantees children protection from abuse and all forms of violence, while the Children Act of 2022 prohibits cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Together, these laws form the legal framework that currently outlaws corporal punishment in schools.

The government through the Ministry of Education has consistently promoted alternative disciplinary approaches, including counseling, mentorship, parental involvement and restorative justice. These methods seek to correct behavior while preserving the dignity and rights of learners.

The big question now is whether the return of corporal punishment would genuinely reduce indiscipline or whether it would represent a return to a system that the country deliberately abandoned more than two decades ago.

While the recent rise in school fires and other incidents has heightened public concern, the debate ultimately extends beyond caning itself. It touches on how schools can maintain discipline, protect students and create environments that support both learning and personal development.

As Senator Khalwale moves forward with his proposed bill, lawmakers, parents, teachers and education experts will be forced to confront a difficult question: Is corporal punishment the solution to Kenya’s discipline crisis, or should the country focus on strengthening alternative methods that address the deeper causes of student misconduct?