For the second time in a single academic year, Mbale High School in Vihiga County has been closed indefinitely following yet another incident of student unrest and vandalism,
The latest disruption, which occurred on Wednesday, has left stakeholders in disbelief and searching for answers. Reports indicate that school property was damaged during the incident, prompting authorities to send students home as tensions escalated.
Local education leaders have stepped in, demanding a thorough probe into the circumstances that led to the closure. Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Vihiga Executive Secretary Sabala Inyeni has called upon the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to launch an immediate investigation. He suspects that forces outside the school community may be influencing student behavior.
“The grievances raised by learners were manageable. We must now question whether external players are fueling this conduct,” Inyeni said, urging unity among stakeholders to restore calm.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) representative Maurice Chalenga echoed the urgency, noting that the school has become a hotspot for chaos in recent months. Previous episodes included arson, property destruction, and forceful shutdowns all of which have hindered learning.
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Chalenga has called on security organs including the National Intelligence Service (NIS), county officials, and the Ministry of Education to investigate whether these disruptions are rooted internally or being orchestrated from outside. “Whether incited by staff, parents, or other agents, this needs a full diagnosis,” he said.
The financial toll on families has also grown. In a recent incident, parents were required to pay ksh12, 500 each for damages, while those linked to the destruction faced additional fines of ksh30a, 000. The burden is deepened by lost learning time, unpaid staff salaries, and reputational damage to a school once held in high regard.
A multi-agency consultative meeting is expected to take place soon to chart the way forward. Education leaders say the situation must be contained before it snowballs further.
This incident adds to the latest cases of students’ unrest in schools with the latest being Nakuru Girls which was indefinitely closed yesterday after a violent protest by students who destroyed exam materials on Tuesday evening.
By Masaki Enock
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