Teachers at Litein Boys High School in Kericho County have vowed not to return to the institution, citing insecurity, intimidation, and unfair treatment following last month’s violent student unrest.
Speaking through the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), the educators said they would not resume duty as directed by the government, instead calling for immediate transfers to safer working environments.
KUPPET Kericho Executive Secretary Mary Rotich condemned the situation, accusing the school’s administration of scapegoating teachers instead of addressing the root causes of the chaos.
She urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to act swiftly and recall all staff from the school until their safety is guaranteed.
“Teachers are being unfairly labelled as if they benefited from the chaos. Their dignity must be respected,” Ms Rotich said, demanding TSC intervention before any reopening talks take place.
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The teachers say their property, worth millions of shillings, was destroyed during the September 21 riot, when students went on a rampage after being denied a chance to watch a Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City.
The unrest led to massive destruction of school property and forced the indefinite closure of the institution.
The school has since been mired in controversy after the administration directed parents to pay Ksh 49,000 each to cover the cost of repairs.
This decision has sparked outrage among parents, who have since moved to court to challenge the levy, terming it punitive and unjustified.
Attempts to reopen the school have been unsuccessful, with reports indicating that students are planning fresh protests over the retention of the current principal.
The unfolding drama at Litein Boys underscores a wider crisis in Kenya’s education sector, where strained relations between teachers, students, and school management continue to hamper discipline and learning stability.
By Philip Koech
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