Chaos as Students Clash With Teachers, Burn Dormitory at Kisii School
Tension gripped Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School in Bobasi, Kisii County, after a student protest against the appointment of a new principal turned violent, leading to clashes between students and teachers and the burning of one of the school’s dormitories.
The unrest, which occurred on Monday, July 6, prompted a swift response from police and education officials, who have since launched investigations into the incident.
Authorities are now working to determine what triggered the violence, assess the level of destruction, and identify those responsible for the damage caused during the chaos.
Following the violent incident, the school was closed indefinitely, and all students were instructed to leave the institution as security officers took control of the situation.
Education officials said learning would only resume after investigations are completed and the school environment is declared safe.
According to reports, the unrest began after students rejected the appointment of a newly posted principal who had been transferred from Mochorwa Secondary School.
The principal had been assigned to take over leadership following the retirement of the previous headteacher, who had served at the school for four years.
Witnesses said students gathered within the school compound to express their dissatisfaction with the leadership change. What initially started as a protest quickly escalated into a tense confrontation as emotions ran high.
Teachers attempted to calm the students and persuade them to end the demonstrations peacefully, but their efforts failed to restore order.
As the situation worsened, school staff were forced to retreat to safer areas after students became increasingly aggressive.
Videos circulating online showed groups of students, some covering their faces with masks, confronting teachers while stones were thrown across different sections of the school compound.
The scenes reflected the intensity of the confrontation as panic spread throughout the institution.
The violence later took a more destructive turn when a group of students stormed one of the school’s dormitories and set it ablaze.
Thick smoke could be seen rising from the building as the fire destroyed part of the facility. The incident caused significant property damage and raised concerns about the safety of both students and staff.
After setting the dormitory on fire, some students reportedly forced open the school’s main gate before leaving the compound.
They insisted they would not accept the newly appointed principal, maintaining their opposition to the transfer despite appeals from teachers and school administrators.
Officials from the education department and local security agencies later arrived at the school to assess the damage and restore calm.
Kisii County Director of Education Philip Chirchir visited the institution alongside police officers to inspect the affected areas and coordinate the government’s response to the incident.
Authorities confirmed that investigations are now underway to establish the events that led to the violence, determine who participated in the destruction of school property, and recommend appropriate disciplinary and legal action against those found responsible.
The incident has once again raised concerns over the increasing cases of student unrest in learning institutions across the country.
Education stakeholders have expressed worry over the growing trend of violent protests that have resulted in destruction of school property and disruption of learning.
The latest incident also comes at a time when schools are still recovering from recent tragedies, including the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy, which renewed national discussions about student safety, school discipline, and the need for effective conflict resolution mechanisms in learning institutions.
Police investigations are expected to continue over the coming days as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the protest and ensure those responsible for the violence and destruction are held accountable.
Meanwhile, the school will remain closed until officials are satisfied that normal learning can safely resume.
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