Ambira Boys’ High School in Siaya County has been closed indefinitely after students went on a destructive rampage that left property worth millions of shillings damaged and several people injured.
The unrest reportedly began shortly after evening preps and escalated into the morning hours, forcing the school administration to send students home as security officers struggled to restore calm.
According to reports, the chaos started after a section of students allegedly attacked a Form Three learner, triggering tension within the institution before the situation spiraled out of control.
Rowdy students reportedly turned against teachers, pelting their residences with stones and other objects while vandalizing key school facilities.
Among the areas heavily affected were dormitories, the computer laboratory, science laboratories, the principal’s office, staffroom, bursar’s office, and the school kitchen.
Computers, laboratory equipment, reagents, and official documents were either destroyed or looted during the violence.
The destruction also extended to the principal’s office, where windows and doors were smashed while shelves containing students’ result slips were damaged.
Newly installed Wi-Fi infrastructure and computers in the computer laboratory were also vandalized.
Reports indicate that only one computer was spared, allegedly so students could use it to watch movies overnight as the unrest continued.
Police officers from Ugunja Police Station were deployed to contain the situation, although significant damage had already occurred by the time calm was restored.
Some individuals, including a police officer, sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
Messages scribbled on walls during the chaos hinted at deeper frustrations among students.
Some writings reportedly read: “Government help us” and “Kauko, the former principal, we miss you.”
School Board Chairperson Eliud Owino described the destruction as unprecedented, saying investigations had already begun to identify the ringleaders and establish the root cause of the unrest.
“We are going to start from scratch because documents and machines have been destroyed,” he said, adding that the fate of Form Four candidates remains uncertain.
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Benson James Aluodo said authorities suspect the unrest may have been fueled by deeper issues within the institution, including allegations of sodomy, drug abuse, and dissatisfaction over examination management.
He also directed education officials to transfer teachers who have served at the school for more than 20 years, claiming some may have played a role in influencing the unrest.
By Odoyo Miranda
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