When he retired from Kenya Railways a few years ago, I remember my father, Caleb, saying that in his entire working life, he never even once received a warning or disciplinary letter. That’s despite the fact that he handled heavy work and difficult people. He was disciplined, diligent, and dependable – despite him loving the products of Hitler.
I swore to emulate him. And since I got employed, despite being a loyal and regular customer of Hitler’s establishment, I have remained a humble, hardworking, and diligent teacher. Not only have I been diligent, but I’ve also ensured that the teachers around me maintain the same high level of professionalism. I have done this through coaching, training, and guiding them — even tolerating their weaknesses.
That is why I have tolerated Saphire. Despite his inefficiencies, his incompetence, and his general unseriousness, I have stood by him. If there is one person who should never have been allowed to step into a classroom or staffroom as a teacher, it is Saphire! I honestly don’t know which job would suit him — but teaching is definitely not one of them.
But because he is my brother from Mwisho wa Lami, I have, over the years, done everything possible to support him. I have defended him from others, shielded him from accusations, and hidden his shame from the community – and TSC.
Let’s be honest — there is no teacher like Saphire. The man has never had a proper schemes of work. He was once removed from writing student reports for scribbling his own nonsense in students’ report cards. He has never been allowed to be on duty for years, - ever since that day when he released pupils at 12 noon.
The list of infractions is long. And I am not even talking about his drinking. Everyone knows that. And that is what led to his latest interdiction, which eventually saw him being shown the door. But let’s be clear: I did not fire Saphire. He fired himself! Or rather his actions did. I never wrote a letter asking anyone to dismiss him. TSC simply followed the rules — given the number of times he had been interdicted.
But as you know, all the blame was put on me. Students, teachers, parents, and the entire Mwisho wa Lami community accused me of being unfair — a sadist! My explanations that Saphire’s dismissal was a disciplinary matter, and that he would be replaced with a competent teacher who would shape the future of the sons and daughters of Mwisho wa Lami men and women, fell on deaf ears. Instead of being celebrated for fixing an issue that previous HOIs had failed to handle, I became the villain.
Then came the State House visit — followed by Saphire’s reinstatement! When I realised I could not stop his return, I tried to convince the powers that be to post him to another school, anywhere but Mwisho wa Lami. But I was told there was a doctor’s letter instructing that he be posted near his home, because of a “special condition.”
A doctor’s letter, really? I strongly suspect that letter was fake. No sane doctor would write that! If anything, a real doctor would have written that the best way to help Saphire is to keep him away from the environment that encourages his drinking — not bring him closer to it. But the mandarins at TSC listened to that letter, and the rest, as you all know, is history.
After Saphire’s reinstatement, and the sad events that later followed, I decided to write to TSC asking that he be transferred elsewhere. It was a strictly confidential letter, meant to be handled quietly. But just to show you how connected Saphire was, within a few days my letter was all over — shared in teachers’ WhatsApp groups.
“Kwani what is wrong with Dre? If he doesn’t want Saphire in his school, why doesn’t he ask for a transfer himself? Dre is a sadist! This HOI is anti-teacher!” Those were just some of the comments circulating in a teachers’ WhatsApp group.
Last week, I was summoned to the County TSC office to “discuss important matters matter relating to your school.” Instead of meeting the County Director herself, I was handed over to someone else for interrogation — and the line of questioning was anything but professional.
“Why do you hate teachers?” the man asked. “Why don’t you want others to grow? Any reason why you dislike Kuya and Lena?”
Then he leaned back and added, “And what’s this issue between you and Saphire? Is it a family feud? Why would you hate a teacher from your own village? You don’t want your people to grow? Must you be the only successful person from Mwisho wa Lami?”
I told him clearly that I had nothing against Saphire — that over the years, I have done everything possible to rescue him. He nodded slowly and said: “TSC is a human and humane organisation. We are the largest employer in Kenya. We employ all kinds of people — preachers, business people, thieves, drunkards, charlatans, all sorts. As a Head of Institution, you must accommodate everyone and make them effective. Interdicting teachers is a sign you have failed to mentor them.”
I told him that Saphire had been interdicted multiple times before I even became HOI. So why blame me?
“And that is exactly why you were appointed,” he shot back. “To fix such issues and restore order!”
I reminded him of how I’ve supported teachers like Saphire, Kuya, and Lena - her bad hair in tow. He simply told me, “Go home and wait for further communication.”
So I went home. For two days, I didn’t step in school. I did not feel like. Then, on Thursday evening, a fellow teacher called me.
“Dre, what’s this I’m seeing on WhatsApp?” he asked.
He forwarded it to me. And there it was. A show cause letter addressed to me! Circulating in teachers’ groups like breaking news – before reaching me.
In the letter, I was accused of absenteeism, failure to manage teachers, and general incompetence. And I had two weeks to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against me. Just imagine — me! The same man who has held Mwisho wa Lami together through scandals, strikes, and Saphire’s mischief — now being accused of incompetence! This is laughable. And I will fight it.
A lion that is rained on looks like a cat, but it is still a lion. TSC have no idea whom they are dealing with. They will soon know they don’t know!
