Migori Senior School students took the public by surprise on Tuesday, June 9, when hundreds of learners staged a peaceful demonstration through Migori Town to protest the rising wave of school arson incidents across the country.
Dressed in full school uniform, the students marched from the school grounds to the town centre, chanting slogans such as “Education, Not Destruction” and “Dialogue, Not Fire.” They carried placards urging fellow students nationwide to reject the destructive practice of burning school property and instead embrace dialogue and discipline as avenues for addressing grievances.
The demonstration comes amid a nationwide surge in dormitory fires and student unrest that has disrupted learning in more than 200 secondary schools since May; with the latest tragedy occurring at Utumishi Academy in Gilgil, where a dormitory fire claimed the lives of 16 students, intensifying calls for schools to strengthen student discipline and grievance-resolution mechanisms.
Speaking during the march, Student Council Chairperson Dennis Otieno said the school community had resolved that violence was not the language of learners.
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He acknowledged that schools face challenges such as food shortages, congestion and strict regulations, but emphasized that such issues should be addressed through constructive engagement with school administrations rather than acts of arson.
“When you burn a dormitory, you punish your parents and the Form Four candidates preparing for KCSE,” he said.
The students later presented a petition to the Migori County Director of Education, urging the Ministry of Education to establish faster and more effective grievance redress systems in schools to prevent frustrations from escalating into unrest.
The school administration commended the learners for their conduct. The principal, who requested anonymity, described the demonstration as a reflection of the values taught at the institution.
“If students can organise peaceful, lawful demonstrations to defend learning, then we are winning,” he said.
Police officers escorted the procession and reported no incidents of violence or traffic disruption. The Migori County Police Commander confirmed that the students complied with all requirements governing peaceful public assemblies.
The Migori protest contrasted sharply with recent unrest reported in several schools, including Loreto Girls Limuru, Lenana School, Moi Girls Nairobi, where riots and arson attacks have destroyed dormitories and classrooms.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly warned that students found culpable of arson risk expulsion, criminal prosecution and possible exclusion from future educational opportunities.
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Education experts noted that the Migori initiative could serve as a model for student-led campaigns promoting discipline and responsible leadership. Dr. Hellen Owuor, a lecturer at Rongo University, said the learners had demonstrated responsibility and civic consciousness.
“This is the kind of civic education Kenya needs,” she said.
The march concluded at the Migori County Education offices, where students observed a minute of silence in honour of victims of recent school fires before dispersing peacefully.
By Enock Okong’o
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