Nakuru Girls’ High School has been closed indefinitely after students staged a violent protest on Wednesday morning, destroying property in a rampage reportedly sparked by exam-related frustrations.
The prestigious girls’ secondary school in Nakuru County became the latest casualty in a growing wave of student unrest across Kenya. According to school officials, the chaos erupted following dissatisfaction with the scheduling of upcoming end-of-term examinations. While students are said to have demanded a postponement, the administration stood firm, triggering a destructive backlash.
The school principal acknowledged the students’ anxiety but downplayed claims that the protest was due to unfair exam timing, instead attributing the incident to heightened pressure as tests approached.
Although the full extent of the damage remains unclear, the administration confirmed that property of unknown value was destroyed during the unrest. The school has not announced when it will reopen, leaving parents and stakeholders in limbo.
This incident follows a string of similar disruptions nationwide. On July 20, Kaplong Girls High School in Bomet County was also closed after students staged protests over allegations of inappropriate conduct by members of the teaching staff. In another dramatic event, Tambach Boys High School in Elgeyo Marakwet was shut down after a coordinated 3 a.m. walkout, though the reason remains undisclosed.
The trend of unrest has been escalating, with over ten schools affected since the start of July. In some cases, the grievances have been unconventional: students at Chebisaas Boys walked out over a lackluster concert, while Litein Boys High School students rioted over undercooked rice served for dinner on June 11.
Education stakeholders are now calling for a thorough investigation into what many believe are deeper, systemic issues fueling this wave of discontent. The Ministry of Education is yet to release an official statement addressing the situation.
Written By Rodney Mbua
