Christine Mungai, the author of the investigation and a former student, shares her unsettling experience from 2006 at Peter Ayiro’s on-campus residence when she was just 19 years old. She describes the encounter as both confusing and exploitative, highlighting the significant power imbalance that made her feel vulnerable.
An in-depth investigation conducted by Africa Uncensored has brought to light a troubling history of alleged sexual misconduct and grooming by Ayiro, who has been a teacher at Alliance Girls High School, one of Kenya’s most prestigious secondary schools for girls.
The findings, supported by over 60,000 words of accounts from more than twenty former students, teachers, and staff members, reveal not only specific incidents of misconduct but also a broader systemic failure. This failure allowed Ayiro to continue his actions unchecked, protected by a culture of institutional complacency and legal tactics that hindered accountability.
A Legacy Tainted by Allegations
Alliance Girls High School, established as Kenya’s first school for African girls, is celebrated for its academic excellence and tradition of nurturing women leaders under its motto, “Walk in the Light.”
However, the investigation, exposes a darker reality: allegations of grooming, inappropriate relationships, and sexual encounters involving Ayiro, a History and German teacher and Christian Union (C.U.) patron since the late 1990s.
Former students describe Ayiro as charismatic, warm, and spiritually authoritative, qualities that earned him trust across the school’s hierarchy.
Yet, this trust allegedly enabled him to forge emotionally intense bonds with students, which, in several cases, escalated into sexual relationships.
Christine Mungai, the investigation’s author and a former student, recounts a 2006 encounter at Ayiro’s on-campus residence when she was 19, describing it as disorienting and exploitative due to the power imbalance.
Another alumna, Ruth* (class of 2019), detailed a relationship that began with suggestive texts in 2020 and culminated in sexual encounters at Ayiro’s residence during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The investigation cites five firsthand accounts, including two instances of nonconsensual physical contact during school years, a nonconsensual kiss shortly after graduation, and two emotionally charged relationships that “turned physical” post-graduation.
A 2018 Facebook post by a former student from the mid-2010s further alleged a pregnancy resulting from a sexual relationship with a teacher, with Ayiro’s name recurring in discussions about inappropriate conduct spanning over 20 years.
Systemic Failures and Institutional Protection
The investigation highlights a culture of silence at Alliance, where Ayiro’s close relationships with principals, notably Mrs. Dorothy Kamwilu, and his perceived “anointing” as a man of God granted him near-untouchable status.
Former students like Sheilah Mwiti* (class of 2013) noted his ability to bend rules, such as taking girls out for dinners or inviting them to his residence, without apparent oversight.
Teachers who suspected misconduct admitted to warning students discreetly but refrained from formal complaints, citing fear of retaliation or futility due to Ayiro’s administrative ties.
When Mungai presented her findings to the principal and Board of Management (BOM), they expressed shock but pressured her to delay or drop the story, prioritizing the school’s reputation over accountability.
The BOM refused to accept written questions and offered no formal response by the publication deadline, underscoring a reluctance to confront systemic failures.
Efforts to Silence the Truth
Ayiro’s attempts to suppress the story further illuminate the challenges of exposing such allegations.
On May 5, 2025, he secured a court injunction to block publication, arguing it would cause “irreparable harm” to his reputation and employment.
The injunction, granted without substantive debate, delayed the story’s release until July 4, 2025, when a magistrate ruled in favor of Africa Uncensored.
The court cited constitutional protections for press freedom under Article 34 and the public interest in protecting minors, noting that Ayiro failed to prove the story was false or malicious.
The ruling emphasized that silencing such reports risks emboldening impunity and discouraging victims, particularly in cases of child sexual abuse, which are often underreported due to power imbalances.
A Church’s Complicity
Ayiro’s role in Koinonia Life Centre (KLC), pastored by his father, Pastor Aggrey Ayiro, compounded the lack of accountability. Allegations of an extramarital affair involving a former student reached KLC leadership in 2021, yet Ayiro faced no public sanctions and resumed his C.U. role by late 2021.
Alumni like Priscah* and Diana*, who escalated concerns to Pastor Joseph Njoroge of Congress WBN, were frustrated by assurances of “internal handling” with no visible action, constrained by a restructured church hierarchy.
The investigation exposes a deeper societal issue: the tendency to discredit survivors, particularly young women, in environments where male authority figures are revered.
Karwitha Kirimi (class of 2014) highlighted the “unspoken assumption” that teenage girls are inherently suspect, shifting blame onto victims.
The court’s ruling reaffirmed the constitutional imperative of child protection, urging transparency over institutional cover-ups.
As Alliance Girls High School’s BOM promises “strong, decisive, and immediate” action, the investigation stands as a testament to the courage of survivors and the necessity of dismantling systems that protect predators.
