Kangundo DEB Secondary School principal Elizabeth Mati faces backlash over a teacher’s death and funeral ban after she issued a show-cause letter to a staff member who was fighting for his life in hospital. The incident has left many in Machakos County angry and talking about how school leaders treat their workers.
Elizabeth Mati serves as the head of Kangundo DEB Secondary School. She wrote a formal show cause letter to teacher Michael Wambua after he missed work for a full week. The letter demanded an explanation and warned of possible disciplinary action that could end in dismissal.
What she did not realise at the time was that Wambua lay seriously ill in the intensive care unit during those seven days. He battled diabetes and high blood pressure according to reports from colleagues. The very day the principal drafted the letter turned out to be the day Wambua passed away. The show cause notice reportedly sat unread on his table or among his belongings.
When news of his death reached the school, the situation grew even worse. Mati reportedly barred teachers and students from attending the burial at Masewani Village in Kangundo. She cited busy schedules with end-term exams and threatened anyone who left with disciplinary measures.
Teachers felt torn between their duties and the need to mourn a colleague. The decision sparked immediate outrage among staff who saw it as heartless.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers officials from the Machakos branch stepped in quickly. They condemned the principal’s actions as insensitive and unprofessional. Union leaders visited the school and helped arrange transport so teachers could pay their last respects.
Some accounts say the officials basically walked out with the teachers to the funeral despite the ban. At the burial itself, emotions ran high. People spoke openly about the way the late teacher had been treated in his final days. The principal reportedly faced public criticism there as well.
The whole story spread fast on social media. Posts on Facebook and X shared details of the show cause letter and the funeral block. Many called Mati names, ranging from ‘bully’ to ‘lacking basic humanity’.
Parents and former students joined the conversation. They pointed to the school’s poor performance, with a mean score of around one in recent exams. Some accused her of not paying staff on time and creating a tough working environment.
Others described her as foul-mouthed and quick to intimidate teachers. Whether all those claims hold up, the current incident hit a raw nerve because it involved a man’s death.
Michael Wambua had been a dedicated teacher at the school. Colleagues remembered him as someone who showed up and did his job without much drama. His sudden absence raised no immediate alarm from the administration.
No one called to check on him or asked around about his whereabouts. Instead, the assumption was that he had simply skipped work. That lack of follow-up bothers many who read about the case. In a country where health issues can strike anyone without warning, a simple phone call might have changed everything.
KUPPET issued a strong statement. They described the principal’s conduct as deeply disturbing. Denying teachers the chance to attend a colleague’s burial felt wrong on every level. The union stressed that educators are human beings with families and emotions too.
They called for better handling of staff welfare, especially during illness. Some teachers whispered about other issues at the school, including low morale and dismal results year after year. The late Wambua’s story brought those frustrations into the open.
As the news travelled, more voices joined the chorus. Local leaders and education watchers weighed in. A few defended the principal, saying schools must maintain discipline and exam schedules matter.
Most, however, sided with the teachers. They argued that compassion should come first when a life ends. One common question kept coming up. How hard is it to pick up the phone and ask why someone missed work before jumping to punishment?
The school now sits under a cloud. Parents wonder about the atmosphere inside the classrooms. Teachers worry about their own security if they fall sick. Students sense the tension even if they do not know all the details. Mati has not made any public comment yet on the growing criticism. The education office in Machakos may look into the matter soon given the union’s involvement.
This sad episode shines a light on pressures inside Kenyan secondary schools. Principals juggle exam results, staff management and limited resources. Still basic kindness toward a sick colleague should not feel like too much to ask.
Michael Wambua left behind family and friends who expected support from the place where he spent his working days. Instead, they got silence followed by a ban on mourning.
As conversations continue online and in staff rooms, many hope the story leads to real change. Schools need systems that check on absent teachers with care rather than suspicion. Leaders who forget their staff are people first risk losing trust from everyone around them.
For now the focus stays on honouring Wambua’s memory and making sure no other family goes through similar pain. The principal of Kangundo DEB Secondary School finds herself at the centre of a debate that reaches far beyond one school compound.
