Tambach Boys High School in Elgeyo Marakwet County has been closed for an unspecified period after students walked out in protest during the early hours of Monday morning, heading towards Iten town.
Principal Michael Cheruiyot confirmed the closure, saying that while the situation didn’t result in major destruction, the school’s Board of Management had urgently met to evaluate the unrest and decide the way forward.
According to reports, the students left the school compound at around 3 a.m. in what appeared to be a well-organized protest. Their early morning march captured the attention of nearby residents as the students proceeded towards Iten town.
Eyewitnesses said the learners looked visibly upset but did not cause chaos or property damage during their march. Nonetheless, the peaceful nature of the protest raised concerns among the public and education officials regarding what triggered the walkout.
Photos and videos shared with Kenyans.co.ke showed dozens of students walking in unison through the town’s central business district.
Despite the apparent standoff between the students and the school administration, the protest did not escalate into violence.
This incident is happening at a time when several schools across Kenya are experiencing increased student unrest, sparking widespread concern about discipline and well-being within learning institutions.
Tambach Boys becomes the second school in the region to be closed indefinitely due to student protests. Just last Wednesday, St. Patrick’s Iten High School—also in Elgeyo Marakwet County—was shut down after learners rioted and destroyed school property.
Reports indicated that the Iten students were protesting against the scheduled end-of-term exams, which prompted the administration to send them home as a safety measure. Keiyo North Sub-County Director of Education, Alice Sitienei, confirmed that the protest turned violent, leading to significant property damage.
Additionally, the school’s principal came under fire from students and some stakeholders, who accused him of failing to uphold academic standards, which they claimed had contributed to poor academic performance. However, Kenyans.co.ke could not independently confirm these allegations.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Kaplong Girls High School in Bomet County was also shut down indefinitely following a student protest. The learners reportedly demonstrated against a male teacher accused of repeatedly displaying inappropriate behavior.
The protest sparked serious tension at the school, prompting an abrupt halt to learning activities. Students demanded immediate action, citing concerns over the teacher’s conduct and the school’s handling of the situation.
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