All boarding schools in Gatundu South, Kiambu County, have been ordered shut indefinitely following a wave of arson attacks that left dormitories and other school facilities destroyed.
Within just one week, at least four institutions were hit, sparking alarm over student safety and the growing trend of property destruction in schools.
Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe affirmed the closure, pointing out that the directive was issued after joint consultations with education stakeholders and security officials.
He noted that the temporary shutdown would create space for investigations to uncover those responsible for the coordinated incidents and to prevent further losses.
According to Kagombe, investigators are focusing on social media activity, where it is alleged that students and accomplices are circulating coded instructions on how to carry out the torching.
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“We have had many challenges in Gatundu, and we reached a consensus to close all the schools to reset and investigate. Intelligence leads have pointed to a social media web where students use computer labs to spread information on how to torch schools,” Kagombe stated.
The MP further explained that the decision to close schools over the weekend was intentional.
“We decided over the weekend because we realised students can take advantage of the reduced supervision,” he remarked.
Education officers and security agencies are now expected to scale up investigations. At the same time, parents and local leaders are demanding a speedy probe, worried that the disruption could interfere with preparations for national exams.
One parent, Penina Mburu, expressed frustration over the sudden closure.
“This is seriously going to impact us, together with the learners. I have a candidate, and we were shocked to get SMS notifications alerting us to go pick up our children by 10 am,” she said.
She added, “There are dormitories, student boxes, and other amenities that have been torched; this, therefore, calls for swift investigations.”
The closure comes at a critical time. The third term of basic education, which began on Monday, August 25, 2025, and concludes on Friday, October 24, 2025, is the shortest in the academic calendar, yet it is the most crucial as candidates take their final national assessments.
This year’s Term 3 will also include two public holidays—Mazingira Day on October 10 and Mashujaa Day on October 20.
By Joseph Mambili
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