- Nyansira SDA Secondary School has been closed for one week after students protested over the transfer of their Principal and Deputy Principal.
- Students have destroyed property within the school and along the Kisii-Keroka road, blocking the highway for hours before police restored order.
- Retired teacher Samson Nyareru has called for stronger dialogue, guidance and counselling, and early communication of administrative decisions to prevent future unrest.
Nyansira SDA Secondary School along the Kisii-Keroka road has been closed for one week, effective October 1, 2026, following unrest that occurred on September 30, 2026, when students stormed out of the school and staged protests.
The students were protesting after learning that their Principal and his Deputy had been transferred. In anger, they destroyed physical structures within the school compound and along the Kisii-Keroka road. They also stormed a shop belonging to the School Board of Management Chairman and vented their anger on it. The protest led to the blocking of the highway, causing a traffic jam that lasted for hours.
It took a joint effort by police officers from both Birongo and Keumbu police stations to calm the charged students and restore order. Following the incident, the school management decided to send all students home for one week to allow investigations into the cause of the rampage and to assess the extent of the damage.
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Retired high school teacher Samson Nyareru said school strikes have serious negative effects, causing destruction of school and private property that leads to huge financial losses. He said such unrest interrupts learning and leads to loss of valuable academic time, while also causing injuries to students and staff, creating fear and anxiety among parents, and damaging the image of affected schools. He noted that in many cases, parents are forced to pay for destroyed property, while some students face suspension, expulsion or even criminal charges.
To minimise such incidents in schools, Nyareru called for open dialogue between students and administration, saying schools should strengthen guidance and counselling departments to help students express grievances peacefully. He added that transfers and other administrative decisions should be communicated early and clearly to avoid rumours and tension.
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He further said student leaders should be involved in decision-making, while parents and Boards of Management should work closely with schools to address issues before they escalate, stressing that grievances raised by students should be addressed swiftly and fairly.
By Enock Okong’o
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