A growing crisis is unfolding at Kaimosi Friends National Polytechnic as serious claims have emerged linking Chief Principal Dr. J.W. Okumu Odhiambo to a pattern of sexual harassment targeting female lecturers.
Several insiders from the institution have come forward, describing a toxic environment built on abuse of power, threats, and an internal culture of silence that has gone unchallenged for years.
These fresh accounts are now shaking the institution’s foundations and pushing calls for action into the public eye.Credible sources say that Dr. Okumu allegedly used his position of authority to pressure female lecturers into giving in to sexual demands.
Some of the women who resisted were reportedly punished through sudden transfers, unexplained interdictions, and sidelining from key roles within the institution.
In many of these cases, no official explanation was given, but the lecturers involved say the message was clear if you do not give in, you will be professionally destroyed.
One female lecturer, who asked not to be named, shared her experience, saying her chances of promotion were tied to whether or not she gave in to the principal’s demands. After refusing, she says she was abruptly posted to a remote location, without prior discussion.
This has led many to believe that professional growth at the institution is no longer based on merit but on submission to unethical and illegal requests. It paints a picture of a place where dignity and hard work are ignored, and fear is used to keep people silent.
The principal, when asked about the allegations, dismissed them, claiming that the school is not aware of any such complaints and redirecting inquiries to the State Department’s HR office at Jogoo House.
But this denial has not eased concerns. Instead, staff and community members are growing more frustrated. Some lecturers are reportedly organizing a protest to push for the Ministry of Education to step in.
Behind the scenes, efforts are also being made to involve investigative agencies like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to probe the matter independently.
The scandal comes at a time when many public education institutions in Kenya are under fire for mismanagement, harassment, and abuse of office.
At Kaimosi, the concern is not just about one man’s conduct, but about a system that seems to protect wrongdoers while leaving victims exposed and isolated.
Lecturers say that when they tried using internal reporting channels, they were met with indifference or retaliation. This lack of institutional protection has left victims feeling helpless.
Civil rights groups and gender advocacy organizations are now being called upon to raise the issue. Institutions like FIDA, NGEC, and KNCHR are being urged to take action before more careers are destroyed and more victims suffer in silence.
Legal experts have described this case as a clear example of institutional failure and argue that there is no excuse for the government to stay quiet.
The school, once known for its strong academic programs in Western Kenya, is now facing a credibility crisis.
Parents and students are losing trust, and unless something is done, the institution’s reputation could be permanently damaged. This is no longer just an internal matter. It has become a national issue that requires urgent intervention.
What happens next could set the tone for how Kenya handles sexual misconduct in public institutions. If the authorities choose to act, it will offer hope to those who have endured this alleged abuse and fear. But if nothing is done, it will signal that the voices of victims still do not matter. For many, this is a moment of reckoning that cannot be ignored.
