Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School in Bobasi Constituency, Kisii County, has been closed indefinitely after violent unrest by students protesting the appointment of a new principal left a dormitory destroyed, disrupted learning and prompted a police investigation.
The unrest erupted on Monday after the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) deployed a new principal to succeed the outgoing head, David Ogega, who recently retired. According to reports, a section of students opposed the appointment, triggering demonstrations that quickly escalated into confrontations between learners and teachers inside the school compound.
Videos widely shared online showed students and teachers throwing stones at one another as attempts to restore calm failed. The situation later worsened when a dormitory was set on fire, sending thick smoke billowing across the school compound before emergency responders contained the blaze.
Police officers were deployed to the school as the violence intensified. Students later forced open the school’s main gate and walked out, insisting they would not accept the newly posted principal. Authorities have since launched investigations to establish what sparked the unrest and identify those responsible for the destruction of school property.
Kisii County Director of Education Philip Chirchir, accompanied by senior security officials, visited the institution to assess the damage and coordinate the government’s response. Following the inspection, education authorities ordered the immediate closure of the school and directed students to return home pending the outcome of investigations.
According to Citizen Digital, the violence prompted a swift intervention by education and security officials as learning was brought to a standstill. The report said the institution was closed indefinitely while police investigate the unrest and the torching of the dormitory.
The newly appointed principal had been transferred from Mochorwa Secondary School following the retirement of David Ogega, who had recently been honoured by the school for his service. The leadership transition was expected to mark a routine administrative change before it was overtaken by the protests.
The closure comes at a critical point in the academic calendar, with end-of-term examinations approaching. Education officials are yet to announce when learning will resume, saying reopening will depend on the outcome of investigations and an assessment of the school’s security situation.
The incident has renewed concern over student unrest in Kenyan schools following a series of recent disturbances that have resulted in property damage and interrupted learning. Education stakeholders have increasingly called for stronger dialogue during school leadership transitions and early intervention mechanisms to prevent grievances from escalating into violence.
Investigators have not publicly established whether factors beyond the change in school leadership contributed to the unrest. While allegations circulating on social media have suggested external influence, no official agency has confirmed those claims, and authorities have urged that investigations be allowed to run their course.
