Moi Kisii Comprehensive School in Nyaribari Masaba Constituency remains closed after irate parents stormed the institution and locked its gates on Friday morning over alleged mismanagement by the headteacher and the school’s Board of Management (BOM).
According to the reports, tension began building early Friday when parents gathered at the school gate at around 7:00 a.m. Carrying placards and chanting slogans, they accused the administration of financial impropriety, poor academic performance, and failure to account for funds raised for school projects.
The parents later forced the gates shut, sent learners home, and demanded immediate intervention from the Ministry of Education. Learning in both the primary and junior secondary sections was paralysed.
Parents who spoke to Education News cited several grievances. They alleged that capitation funds and money collected for infrastructure projects had not been properly utilised, pointing to stalled classroom projects within the school. They also accused the administration of arbitrarily increasing levies, lacking transparency in procurement processes, and victimising teachers who questioned the management.
Some parents further claimed that academic standards had declined significantly, noting that the school’s mean score in the 2025 assessments had dropped sharply compared to previous years.
Other concerns raised included alleged inadequate lunch portions for learners despite parents paying for school meals. They also claimed that since the current headteacher was transferred to the institution, he had never convened an annual general meeting to brief parents on matters affecting the school and its overall progress.
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The headteacher was reportedly absent during the protest. Efforts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, as his phone calls went unanswered. A member of the Board of Management who arrived later declined to address the parents, saying the matter would instead be handled by the education office.
Nyakumbati Assistant Chief Robert Michira, accompanied by officers from the area police station, arrived at the school at around 10:00 a.m. in an attempt to calm the situation. Following a heated meeting with parent representatives, the officials requested the parents to reopen the school, but the plea was rejected. The officials, however, assured parents that the education office would audit the school’s financial records and review its management practices within 14 days.
More than 1,200 pupils and junior secondary learners are expected to remain at home indefinitely unless education officers intervene. Candidates preparing for end-term assessments are among those most affected. Parents vowed not to allow the school to reopen until the headteacher and the entire BOM are removed and replaced with a new management team.
Assistant Chief Michira said a report would be forwarded to the County Director of Education and the Teachers Service Commission for further action. Security officers remain stationed at the school to prevent vandalism.
Parents have scheduled another meeting for Monday, May 12, 2026, to receive feedback from education officials.
The closure has added to growing concerns over school governance in Kisii County, with stakeholders calling for stricter oversight and accountability in the management of public funds in learning institutions.
By Enock Okong’o
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