Several students have been arrested across five counties in Central Kenya following a rise in school unrest incidents, with authorities pointing to drug and substance abuse as a key driver of the disturbances.
The Central Region Security Committee, which met on Friday, June 5, in Nyeri County, said the availability of drugs and alcohol among learners, coupled with unresolved student concerns within schools, has contributed to the recent wave of unrest affecting learning institutions.
The committee added that alleged incitement by some teachers and political actors is also among the reasons for the recent wave of school unrest.
The unrest has led to the closure of nearly 30 secondary schools and disrupted learning just weeks before the second-term half-term break.
Drug Abuse Emerges as Main Cause of School Unrest
Central Regional Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha, who chaired the meeting, said students in Kirinyaga, Meru, Nyeri, Laikipia, and Nanyuki areas had been arrested and arraigned in court in connection with the incidents.
Nkanatha said the region had experienced cases of unrest that resulted in the destruction of school property, including dormitories and mattresses, affecting institutions ranging from national to county schools.
“So far in our region, we have arrested a number of students involved in the unrest. However, we are yet to receive reports of similar incidents from national schools, extra-county and county schools. The situation has largely stabilized, and we are aware of the government’s directive that no school will be closed prematurely,” the official said.
The regional commissioner noted that security agencies, education officials, teachers, school management boards, and local administrators had intensified efforts to restore calm and ensure the safety of learners.
Authorities have also attributed the wave of school unrest to poor meals, communication breakdowns, and congestion. Security officers have been deployed ahead of the Term Two midterm break, Nairobi North County Commissioner Osumba said.
Also Read: Mang’u, Mukumu Girls Among Latest Schools Closed Due to Student Unrest – Daily Updates
Schools Closed Due to Unrests
Among recent closures is Mangu High School, where the administration reported that a small group of students attempted to cause unrest on June 4 at around 7:15 pm, but the situation was quickly contained.
As a precaution, the Board of Management (BOM), Parents Association (PA), and school administration agreed to send all students home on June 5 at 6:00 am to ease tension and safeguard learners’ safety.
At Mukumu Girls Secondary School, parents of Form Three and Form Four students were informed that learners would proceed on a brief break on June 5 and return on June 10. Parents were also advised to clear outstanding fees before reporting back.
In Nairobi, St George’s Girls Secondary School was closed on Thursday, June 4, due to rising anxiety among students linked to unrest in nearby schools, according to the school management.
Upper Hill School was also temporarily closed on June 4 after the administration cited signs of unrest and restlessness among students, and parents were asked to pick up their sons as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, Alliance High School in Nairobi County was closed indefinitely following a fire incident on Thursday morning involving a mattress store within the school premises.
Also Read: Ministry of Education Gives Direction on Closing Schools Countrywide
Ministry Rules Out Early School Closure
Despite the disruptions, the government has maintained that no schools will be closed, insisting that normal learning must continue even as security and education officials move to restore order.
Education PS Julius Bitok, while addressing students and parents of The Kenya High School during the institution’s Speech and Prize-Giving Day on Thursday, June 4, ruled out the early closure of schools for the midterm.
The PS stated that the ministry cannot close all schools since learning in the majority of institutions remains uninterrupted.
He further noted that unrest in a few schools is being contained through enhanced dialogue with learners and a nationwide audit of safety standards.
Instead, the PS said the ministry will conduct inspections of school facilities to ensure compliance with safety standards and encourage dialogue between teachers and students to defuse tensions and avert potential strikes.
He said data from the ministry indicated that only about 1% of schools had been affected by the latest unrest, while learning in the majority of institutions remained unaffected.
There is therefore no justification for breaking for the midterm earlier than the official dates of 24th to 28th June.
“We have no plans for unscheduled closure of schools. Learning is continuing normally in 99 percent of our schools, while only about 0.8 percent have issues. Our focus is on addressing the challenges in the few affected institutions while ensuring that all learners continue with their education without disruption.”
