The Ministry of Education has issued a way forward for early school closure following countrywide unrest.
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 schools remains uninterrupted.
PS Bitok Rules Out Early School Closure Following Unrests
He further noted that unrest in a few schools is being contained through enhanced dialogue with learners and a nationwide audit of safety standards.Parliament of Kenya
“As we honour these accomplishments, I remain keenly aware of the challenges that have recently disrupted learning in some parts of the country,” Bitok said.
“The Ministry is actively undertaking targeted interventions in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy, safeguard learning, and ensure that our learners remain in school,” he added.
A fresh wave of unrest has swept through secondary schools across the country, forcing the closure of several institutions and disrupting learning just weeks before the second-term half-term break.
The unrest comes at a critical period in the academic calendar.
Schools reopened for the second term on April 27 and are expected to close on July 31 after 14 weeks.
Learners are also only three weeks away from the second-term half-term break, scheduled for June 24 to June 28.
This will be followed by a three-week August holiday ending on August 21, 2026.
Term III will be the shortest, running for nine weeks from August 24 to October 23, 2026.
School Calendar and Examination Dates
The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) will each take place over five days, starting October 26, 2026.
The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will also start on October 26, 2026, and continue for seven days.
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will be conducted over three weeks, from November 2 to November 20, 2026.
After completing exams, learners will break for the long December holiday, which will last 10 weeks from October 26, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
Education stakeholders fear the disruptions could affect syllabus coverage, internal examinations, and preparations for national assessments if the trend continues.
Also Read: Loreto Girls High School Closed Indefinitely
Schools Closed After Unrests
The latest institution to be affected is Alliance High School following a fire at the institution’s mattress store on Thursday morning, prompting the school administration to send students home as a precaution.
In a communication to parents dated June 4, the school principal said all students had been accounted for and had continued with their normal morning activities and academic programmes despite the incident.
At the same time, Nakuru Girls High School has been indefinitely closed after the school administration notified parents that students would be released to return home upon requesting permission.
In a message sent to parents and guardians, the school asked families to pick up their daughters or facilitate their travel.
Loreto High School, Limuru, was closed on Wednesday, June 3, after an overnight student disturbance prompted the administration to suspend learning and direct parents and guardians to immediately pick up their children.
The closure adds to a growing list of schools that have sent learners home following unrest.
At Moi Forces Academy in Lanet, parents were directed to pick up Grade 10 and Form Three students following a similar incident of unrest.
The schools join a growing number of institutions that have recently been forced to suspend learning as administrators move to avert further disturbances and restore calm.
Naivasha Girls’ High School was among the first institutions to close shortly after the deadly Utumishi Girls’ Academy fire tragedy that claimed 16 students and left dozens injured.
On Tuesday, Saseta Girls’ Secondary School in Bomet was also closed following rising tensions among students.
Parents were informed through the school’s WhatsApp platform to arrange for the safe collection of their children as education officials moved in to assess the situation.
Also Read: List of Kenyan Schools Closed Indefinitely in Second Term 2026 Due to Student Unrest – Daily Updates
Lenana School was similarly forced to release learners the same day after unrest broke out during evening preps.
This comes after a dormitory fire broke out at Utumishi Girls’ Academy in Gilgil, resulting in a major tragedy.
16 learners died, and 79 others were injured in the incident. The school was subsequently closed following the tragedy, with investigations and CCTV analysis pointing to possible student involvement.
Following the incident, nine students were identified as having participated in the arson attack, based on an enhanced review of CCTV footage.
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