Parents of students at Litein Boys High School in Kericho County will pay a collective fine of Ksh69 million to repair extensive damage caused by a violent student riot, with restoration works set to begin before the new school term.
According to a communication from the board of management (BoM), engineers from the State Department of Public Works assessed the total damage at nearly Ksh100 million. Parents will cover the larger share of Ksh69 million, while the BoM will contribute ksh30 million following an appeal by the parents teachers association (PTA).
The board plans to pay its portion in phases and may seek additional support from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Any remaining balance will later be recovered from parents through the school’s development kitty.
This decision followed a meeting involving the BoM, chaired by Dr K. Kemboi, the PTA led by Abadnego Rotich, and officials from the Ministry of Education and an audit report presented by engineers from the State Department of Public Works, detailing the extent of destruction and the estimated cost of repairs.
“The total cost of damages received from the State Department of Public Works is Ksh69,578,795. This figure is shared among 1,400 students, with each paying Ksh49,699,” the BoM said in a statement to parents.
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Parents have been directed to deposit the fines into the school’s account by October 6, 2025, to enable repair works to begin before reopening, as the board tasked to coordinate payment arrangements directly with parents.
The PTA had earlier suggested reducing the fine to Ksh10,000 per student, but the BoM ruled this out as inadequate given the extent of damage.
The school also announced that it will reopen in phases: Form Two students on October 9, Form Three on October 13, and Form Four on October 16.
“It has been decided that Form Two and Three students will only carry their bags and bedding, while Form Four students will carry all their belongings,” said Principal Richard Sang, who also serves as secretary to the BoM.
However, the school has maintained that all outstanding fees and fines must be cleared before students are readmitted. “Students must be accompanied by their parents, after which a general parents’ meeting will be held,” the board stated.
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The unrest, which occurred two weeks ago, shocked the community and education stakeholders. Eight students were arrested and charged in court, with a week-long detention ordered to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to complete inquiries into arson, burglary, and malicious property damage.
The students, represented by advocate Naima Chelangat, were found in possession of stolen items, including laptops and teachers’ personal belongings.
The school administration dismissed claims that the riot was triggered by the denial of permission to watch a football match, clarifying that students had already watched two matches on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Investigations revealed that some students were angered by the administration’s alleged refusal to cooperate with cartels involved in KCSE examination leakages. Police are also probing reports that outsiders looted school property under the cover of darkness, stealing computers, maize, rice, and beans—some of which were later recovered several kilometres away.
The Ministry of Education has yet to announce whether further disciplinary or administrative measures will be taken against the school’s leadership.
By Juma Ndigo
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