Kemeloi Boys High School in Nandi County has been closed for an indefinite period for the third time this month following student unrest.
Students rioted over the weekend just a week after they had returned following closure the week before.
Police officers have detained 13 students as suspects following the latest incident with 800 students across all forms having been sent home for an indefinite period.
The students went on a rampage on Sunday and destroyed school property that included classrooms, lab equipment and computers.
Form Four students invaded dormitories that are usually occupied by the lower forms (Form One, Tow and Three) and physically assaulted learners in the lower forms by caning.
It is alleged that the Form Four students caned the students in the lower forms for making noise and blamed them for disrupting their studies.
The other learners were not overly submissive with some standing firm and engaging their seniors in running battles.
The Chief of Police in Nandi South John Owuoth confirmed that 13 students were in police custody for destroying school property.
Following investigations, the 13 students are set to be arraigned in court tomorrow.
“13 students are in police custody for assaulting colleagues during the latest strike on Sunday night. They destroyed property which included computers and pulled down the newly installed CCTV and science lab equipment.
Aldai Member of Parliament chaired a crisis meeting last week in a bid to resolve the previous incident which led to the school being closed before the learners were recalled.
Those who attended the meeting were hopeful that a positive working relationship between the local community members, teachers, education officials and the church had been planted. Besides, there was also a declaration that acts of lawlessness and tribalism would not be tolerated in schools in Nandi area.
Some teachers have been alleged to be fighting the principal while the local community has also been blamed in the past for incitement.
It has also been revealed that there have been disagreements over school tenders.
According to the County Director of Education Zachari Mutuiri, the school will be closed until all issues have been resolved.
“Incitement by locals is causing trouble at Kemeloi Boys and the Ministry is committed to solving problems facing the school,” he said.
Police Investigating a School Fire at Riooga Secondary
Nyamira County police officers are currently undertaking an investigation into what caused a fire at Riooga Secondary school that burnt down a dormitory at Riooga Secondary School.
According to the school administration, the fire broke out on Tuesday morning when the students had gone to class to attend morning preps.
“The fire was spotted billowing up the sky by our students who got scared and a commotion arose,” said one of the school’s security guards.
He revealed that some students panicked and broke through the school fence seeking refuge in the homes surrounding the villages.
The guard said that when the county firefighters reported to the scene, they found the dormitory and things that it contained burnt beyond recognition.
Among the first people to arrive at the school following the incident was Masaba North Deputy County Commissioner who comforted the learners and teachers.
He called for calm in the school and promised security for both learners and school staff,
“Let the community around assist us to gather the scattered learners to return to school because sanity has returned.
“I have personally instructed my security officers to act swiftly for detailed findings,” he said.