Tension gripped Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School in Bobasi, Kisii County, after students allegedly turned against police officers and national examination officials investigating suspected irregularities during the ongoing 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
The Thursday, November 5, incident reportedly escalated into a violent confrontation that saw students attack members of a multi-agency team, seize a police firearm and damage property belonging to officers who had visited the institution.
In one of the most alarming developments, the students allegedly seized a Ceska pistol from a police officer and remained in possession of the firearm for nearly three hours before it was recovered.
Kisii County Police Commander Ronald Kirui confirmed the confrontation, revealing that several police officers and Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) officials sustained injuries during the incident.
Additional anti-riot officers were subsequently deployed to the school to restore calm and contain the situation.
The incident took another troubling turn after Corporal Leonard Siele was reportedly seriously assaulted during the confrontation before his whereabouts became unknown.
The officer was part of the security team assigned to monitor examination activities at the institution.
Reports indicate that students also seized his Toyota Succeed vehicle, damaged it extensively and allegedly stole personal belongings kept inside.
The officer's reported disappearance prompted a search operation as investigators moved to establish what happened during the confrontation.
Other officers involved in the operation reportedly included Inspector Peterson Amimo and Police Constable Edward Onyango, alongside National Intelligence Service officer Boniface Muli.
Suspected examination malpractice triggers investigation
Preliminary reports indicate that the security operation followed concerns raised by KNEC official Gioko Kanyi over suspected examination malpractice at the institution.
The multi-agency team, comprising officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), KNEC and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), reportedly visited the school to investigate the allegations.
During the operation, officials allegedly discovered a laptop concealed behind the school's administration offices.
The team reportedly contacted DCI officers based at Nyamache to respond to the discovery. However, before the additional investigators could arrive, students allegedly became hostile and attacked the visiting officials.
The confrontation subsequently escalated, leaving several members of the monitoring team injured.
Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged examination malpractice, the assault on officers, the destruction of property and the reported disappearance of Corporal Siele.
Government intensifies war against KCSE examination cheating
The Nyabisase incident comes at a time when the government has intensified measures to protect the credibility of national examinations.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba recently confirmed that specialised DCI officers had been assigned to work alongside KNEC in identifying and investigating examination malpractice.
The examination council has also strengthened security features on examination papers through personalised and anonymised identifiers designed to help investigators trace the origin of leaked examination materials.
The measures are intended to identify examination centres and individuals associated with unauthorised circulation of examination papers.
Ogamba has warned candidates, teachers and examination officials against participating in examination malpractice, stressing that those found culpable will face legal consequences.
The confrontation in Kisii now raises fresh questions about the safety of officers deployed to enforce examination regulations and the challenges facing authorities in maintaining examination integrity.
Nyabisase school previously experienced violent unrest
The latest incident is not the first time Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School has reportedly experienced serious student unrest.
In July 2026, the institution was reportedly rocked by violent protests following the appointment of a new principal by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The protests allegedly escalated into clashes between students and teachers, with stones thrown during the confrontation.
The situation reportedly turned destructive when students stormed a school dormitory and set it ablaze.
The unrest disrupted learning and reportedly prompted education authorities to order the school's indefinite closure as investigations into the violence commenced.
The latest confrontation has therefore renewed concerns about discipline, school leadership and the management of student unrest in learning institutions.
Questions emerge over school security and examination integrity
The events at Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School have placed the institution at the centre of renewed attention.
Beyond the suspected examination irregularities, the alleged seizure of a police firearm, assault on security personnel and reported disappearance of an officer represent serious security concerns.
Authorities now face the task of establishing what triggered the violence, accounting for any missing property, confirming the officer's whereabouts and identifying those responsible.
The incident also raises a broader question about how schools can maintain discipline while ensuring that examination monitoring teams operate without intimidation or interference.
As investigations continue, attention will turn to how security agencies and education authorities respond to an incident that has raised concerns about the integrity of national examinations and the safety of examination officials.
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