A wave of arson attacks has swept through high schools in Kiambu County, throwing the academic calendar into disarray and igniting a storm of outrage among parents and the community. With the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams just weeks away, the fiery unrest has forced the indefinite closure of at least eight institutions, leaving thousands of students in limbo and raising serious questions about school management and student discipline.
The latest victim in this unsettling trend is Mururia Boys High School in Gatundu South, where a dormitory was reduced to ashes on Friday, September 5. The school, which had only reopened two weeks prior for the final term, was immediately shut down, sending its students home with an uncertain future. This incident is just one of many, mirroring similar attacks that have plagued the region.
The list of affected schools is growing with alarming speed. Muhoho High and Uchekeini Boys, also in Gatundu South, have been closed indefinitely after their classrooms and dormitories were torched. In Githunguri, Githiga Boys High School remains shut, two weeks after a similar arson attack on its dormitories. The unrest has also spread to Lari, with four more schools, including Gatamaiyu Boys and Lari Boys, adding to the grim tally.
Parents, already burdened by school fees and the anxieties of the final term, are now left to contend with the aftermath of these destructive acts. An irate parent, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed the collective frustration. “All these are happening under the watch of the school management, and nothing is being done. Now I know the damage will be sorted by us parents, considering we have already completed paying fees. It is such a sad day for us.”
The sentiment on the ground is that school administrators have failed in their duty to curb the unrest. With a series of similar incidents over the past few years, many are questioning whether the schools have implemented adequate security measures or effective disciplinary programs to deter such behavior. The timing of the attacks, so close to the crucial KCSE exams, has fueled speculation that the fires are not random acts of vandalism but a desperate attempt by students to evade the impending tests.
Education officials have remained largely silent on the matter, offering little in the way of a solution or a clear plan for the affected students. The lack of communication has only amplified the anger and confusion among parents, who fear that their children’s academic future is now at risk.
As the smoke clears from the latest attacks, the community is left to grapple with the deeper issues at play. Is this a systemic failure of the education system? Are students under too much pressure to perform, leading them to resort to such extreme measures? Or is this a symptom of a larger breakdown in discipline and communication between students, parents, and school management?
Whatever the cause, the consequences are dire. The cost of rebuilding the burnt dormitories and classrooms will be substantial, and the disruption to the students’ education is immeasurable. With the KCSE exams scheduled to begin in mid-October, time is running out for the affected students, and the community is demanding answers and action before more schools are consumed by the flames of this unprecedented unrest.
By Felix Wanderi
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