Kwame in big trouble after slandering Bensouda and I
Although the school Kwame went to is about three villages away, we get to see him a lot. He usually goes to school as late as 9 a.m. and returns at home as early as 3 p.m., and ensures he passes near the school so that everyone can see him. He found us talking about the World Cup. ILLUSTRATION/JOHN NYAGAH
What you need to know:
- But those well versed with events know that Kwame had to relinquish his post as deputy HM as soon as it was realised that there was a brighter, more strategic and more deserving teacher to rightfully hold that position. That person happened to be yours truly.
- Unable to stomach more of the conversations that were directed at me and the HM, I left for class. I noted most of the teachers did not go to class as they were engrossed in listening to Kwame’s good-for-nothing stories.
- “Oh Kwame, you are here?” the man asked as he entered. “I thought you said you were in hospital?” Kwame was shell-shocked. He could not even speak.
About a month after Kwame left this school, he came visiting. Most ill-informed people will tell you that Bensouda did not like Kwame at all, which is why she pushed for him to be “beaten transfer”.
But those well versed with events know that Kwame had to relinquish his post as deputy HM as soon as it was realised that there was a brighter, more strategic and more deserving teacher to rightfully hold that position. That person happened to be yours truly here.
As soon as he was dropped, Kwame started looking for a transfer, and got his break when Nzomo agreed to swap places with him. Although the school Kwame went to is about three villages away, we get to see him a lot. He usually goes to school as late as 9 a.m. and returns at home as early as 3 p.m., and ensures he passes near the school so that everyone can see him.
Last week was the first time he visited us. It was on Wednesday morning, a day after the Germany-Brazil match. Nyayo, in his capacity as a member of PTA, had also come visiting. We were discussing the match.
“You people are lying,” said Lutta. “Brazil can never lose and even if they lose, not by that many goals.”
As he did not have a TV and his phone always had battery problems, Lutta had not watched the match. “You can’t tell me that a team with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Romario can lose.”
“Kaa square Lutta,” said Tito. “Those players retired long ago.”
GREENER PASTURES
“But I watched Ronaldo play this World Cup,” said Lutta.
“Which Ronaldo,” wondered Tito. “Cristiano Ronaldo?”
“Yes that one, how can Brazil lose with him playing?” wondered Lutta.
“Cristiano Ronaldo plays for Portugal, not Brazil,” said Kwame as he entered.
“I must have confused them,” Lutta said then left the staff room to avoid further embarrassment.
Nyayo, who had watched the match at my house, joined the debate.
“Yesterday the referee was the problem,” he said. “I am sure he received some M-Pesa from Germany.”
“Why do you say that?” Tito asked.
“I don’t understand why the referee refused to take the game to extra time yet other referees have been doing this,” he said. “Had the referee given extra time Brazil wangekomboa mabao sita but he ended the match at 90 minutes.”
Everybody laughed loudly on hearing this. The focus soon shifted to Kwame.
“You seem to be enjoying your new school,” started Madam Mary. “Hata umenona kidogo since you left us.”
“Na bado,” answered Kwame. “Those of you who were planted in this school should go to other schools so as to know that things are good out there.”
We all kept quiet since he was talking about Mrs Atika, Lutta and I, who have been at Mwisho wa Lami since we left college. I went to my office at that point.
“And most headmasters out there are so good,” he said, adding: “My headmaster, for example, does not care if you come to school daily, as long as your pupils perform well.”
“Really, that’s so cool,” said Madam Ruth. “Can I come to such a school?”
IDLE CHAT
“I wonder if Bensouda will allow you but you can try to get a transfer,” said Kwame. “The teachers there are so good they have a merry-go-round that helps us. They don’t sit backbiting others like here.”
“Hapo umesema ukweli,” said Mrs Atika. “Teachers in this school love fitina so much.” This was surprising coming from Mrs Atika since she is the “Headmistress of Rumours” at Mwisho wa Lami.
“One day I will take a big risk and ask for a transfer from this school,” said Lutta, who has taught at Mwisho wa Lami for close to 20 years. “Even though my wife won’t allow me to go far.”
Arrival times
“And the deputy there does not follow up teachers on stupid things and reports,” added Kwame. “As long as you attend your classes, he doesn’t care about what time you arrive.”
“I have always believed that the Deputy HM has no business asking me for the schemes of work,” said Anita. Listening to Kwame speak, one would not believe that he was the immediate former Deputy HM of the school, and was quite strict on the same things he was now dismissing.
“Even if the deputy finds a class dirty for example, he will have a student clean it first before he can find out the teacher on duty, not like some deputies I know who are so petty.”
“I wish our Deputy was like that,” said Madam Anita.
“In fact, the Deputy HM does not have an office, he sits with other teachers in the staff room,” he added.
Unable to stomach more of the conversations that were directed at me and the HM, I left for class. I noted most of the teachers did not go to class as they were engrossed in listening to Kwame’s good-for-nothing stories.
After my first lesson, I decided to notify Bensouda of the developments.
“Hi, please note that Kwame is around inciting other teachers,” my text to her read. My purpose for writing to her was two-fold. One, I wanted to break the silence that we had been having and, secondly, knowing her hatred for Kwame, I knew she would swing into action.
She responded immediately.
“Thanks dear for the update. I have swinged into action.”
After another class, I decided to joined the other teachers for lunch but Kwame was still there.
INCITERS WILL BE PUNISHED
“Imagine, in our school, parents pay lunch for the teachers,” he was saying as I entered the staffroom. I went straight to my office and locked the door, but I could hear what all the teachers were saying.
“The food is good and we do not contribute any money. I am sure in this school the parents pay for lunch but we have no idea where that money goes.”
At that juncture, Kwame received a phone call. “Hallo… yes, I’m not feeling well as I said. Yes, am in hospital… Yes... I will be back tomorrow,” he said,
“That is my HM. Mtu hana mambo mengi,” he said as he disconnected.
“I wish we had such people here,” said Madam Mary. “Here, being sick is a crime.”
“But if you guys are serious you can change things around here,” said Kwame.
Once they started eating I joined them. Shortly afterwards, two boda boda motorcycles arrived in school. It was Bensouda. The second motorcycle was carrying a man, who disembarked and walked with Bensouda to the staffroom.
“Oh Kwame, you are here?” the man asked as he entered. “I thought you said you were in hospital?”
Kwame was shell-shocked. He could not even speak.
“I want you in school in the next half hour,” the man said as they entered Bensouda’s office.
“We can smell it when a teacher is inciting others. Action will be taken,” he concluded.
Kwame did not even finish his food. He immediately left. Clearly he had been telling us lies and, in the process, had created trouble for himself. I just hope he gets punished most severely, especially after talking so negatively about me and my one and only dear boss: Skastina.
