Migori Man Says Mwalimu Wa Math Phrase Is Hate Speech, Asks Gov't To Ban It: "Teachers Are Shamed"

• William Wainaina urged the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to declare the phrase a form of hate speech
• Wainaina claimed teachers were being shamed across the country, adding anybody found ridiculing their maths teacher should be punished
• The phrase was popularised by a Kenya Defence Forces soldier and two of his colleagues who poked fun at their tutors, saying they had predicted they would fail in life

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - A Kenyan man has appealed to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to outlaw the popular 'mwalimu wa maths' phrase.

In a letter, William Wainaina from Migori has asked the government to classify the word as a form of hate speech.

The man pointed out that most maths teachers warn their students that those who fail in the subject won't go far career-wise.

Failing in maths is, therefore, akin to failing in life. These words were so annoying to students that the term "Mwalimu wa maths" was coined," he wrote.

Origin of 'mwalimu wa maths' phrase

The humorous dislike and ridicule of mathematics teachers was an original creation of a Kenyan soldier.

In a viral funny video, the soldier and two colleagues poked fun at their tutors, saying they had predicted they would fail, presumably due to their poor academic capabilities.

The trio, clad in military gear and carrying rifles, recorded the TikTok video at a visibly uncivilised area where they had supposedly gone to undertake a military operation.

They meant to say that they had made it in life despite their teachers' prophecies of doom.

"Wenye walisema hatuendi mbali, hapa ni wapi?" (Those who declared that we will not make it in life. here we are. Where is this?).

Why Migori man wants phrase banned

In opposition to the phrase, Wainaina claimed it had subjected teachers, not just mathematics teachers, to online ridicule and detestation.

"Many maths teacher is thus put to shame daily on social media platforms by their own students, some of whom didn't go far just as the teacher had warned!" Wainaina wrote.

He explained that it was the right time for the authorities to act against individuals disrespecting teachers.

"Declare the term "Mwalimu wa maths, hapa ni wapi?" hate speech. Anybody found ridiculing their maths teacher should be charged in court and punished accordingly. People should be encouraged to respect their teachers," he added.

Man claiming to be mathematics teacher responds to viral phrase

In a related report, a man claiming to be the embattled mathematics teacher came out to respond to 'trolls' online.

The content creator, who claimed to be a teacher, came up with a rebuttal.

Identified as 'Mwalimu wa Maths', the man stated that his pronouncement was timeless and that whoever doesn't heed advice would fail.