Ambira Boys High School Closed Indefinitely Following Violent Rampage
SIAYA COUNTY — Ambira Boys High School has been closed indefinitely following a violent student rampage that left millions of shillings in property destroyed and several individuals injured. The unrest, which began shortly after evening preparations, escalated overnight, forcing administrators to send learners home as security officers struggled to restore order.
The chaos reportedly ignited when a section of students attacked a Form Three learner. The isolated incident rapidly devolved into widespread tension, culminating in students pelting teachers’ quarters with stones and vandalizing critical infrastructure.
Extensive Destruction of School Property
Rowdy learners systematically targeted the school’s administrative and academic blocks. Heavily affected areas include the dormitories, science laboratories, the staffroom, the bursar’s office, and the school kitchen.
Looters decimated the newly upgraded computer laboratory, sparing only a single machine, reportedly so students could watch movies overnight. The principal’s office also suffered severe damage; windows were smashed, and shelves holding crucial result slips were destroyed.
Officers from the Ugunja Police Station were dispatched to quell the riot. Several individuals, including a police officer, sustained injuries during the fracas and are currently receiving medical treatment.
Investigations and Underlying Causes
Graffiti scribbled on the school walls hinted at simmering grievances, with messages such as “Government help us” and “Kauko, the former principal, we miss you” left behind by the rioters.
School Board Chairperson Eliud Owino described the level of vandalism as unprecedented. “We are going to start from scratch because documents and machines have been destroyed,” Owino stated, noting that the fate of the Form Four candidates remains uncertain as investigations commence.
According to Benson James Aluodo, authorities suspect the rampage was fueled by deeper institutional rot. Allegations of sodomy, drug abuse, and widespread dissatisfaction over examination management are currently under review. Additionally, directives have been issued to education officials to transfer teachers who have served at the school for over two decades, citing suspicions that they may have incited the unrest.
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