- Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok Ololtua has called for a national conversation on the growing cases of school unrest.
- The PS said patriotism, parental involvement and strengthened counselling programmes are key to restoring discipline.
- Education stakeholders have been urged to work together to create safe and conducive learning environments.
Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtua has called for a national dialogue to address the growing cases of student unrest being witnessed across the country.
A wave of school unrest has swept through learning institutions in recent months, with the Ministry of Education reporting at least 330 disruptions, including 95 fire incidents and 18 student fatalities since late April.
Speaking during the 49th Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) Annual National Conference in Mombasa on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 Ololtua said school unrest is a challenge that can be overcome if all stakeholders come together and engage in meaningful dialogue.
However, he emphasized that such efforts must be anchored on strong moral foundations and patriotism.
According to the PS, patriotism is a key ingredient in promoting discipline among learners.
Drawing from his experience while serving in government, Ololtua said he had observed how other countries instill patriotism in learners from an early age.
“One thing that is special about the countries that I visited is that patriotism is inbuilt right from the school level. National anthems and loyalty pledges are recited word by word, and this penetrates deeply into the hearts and minds of learners and extends into adulthood,” he said.
“And you will find that patriotism alone is enough to prevent any kind of arson or misbehavior.”
Learners urged to avoid destruction
The PS urged learners to find constructive ways of expressing grievances without causing loss of life or destruction of property.
He warned that actions taken during school years can have long-term consequences.
Ololtua said the government is keen on monitoring serious acts of indiscipline, noting that criminal conduct could affect future opportunities.
“I don’t really know whether they understand the magnitude of what they do. It is something that all of us need to engage in,” he said.
“It is high time that a national conversation is held, beginning at the family level, moving to the community level, the school level and every fibre of the nation.”
Parenting and counselling programmes
Ololtua revealed that the government is considering introducing new interventions aimed at strengthening discipline and learner welfare in schools.
Among the proposals are enhanced parental involvement, strengthened guidance and counselling departments and expanded mental health programmes.
“I would want us to focus on a robust programme to address issues relating to parenting. Religious leaders may need to partner with the Ministry of Education and introduce programmes that reaffirm the role of parents in guiding and disciplining their children,” he said.
The PS acknowledged that schools face numerous challenges but maintained that frustration can never justify the destruction of school property.
“What we are seeing in schools must stop. How many countries in the world have you seen where students burn their schools?” he posed.
Ololtua also called on parents to engage more deeply with their children and urged Kenyans to stop the blame game and work together to find lasting solutions.
“It is high time to stop the blame game and work together to solve these problems,” he said.
KESSHA National Chairman Willie Mwangi said principals are equally concerned about recurring cases of student unrest.
He noted that the challenge requires a collective and multi-sectoral approach involving schools, parents, religious institutions, government agencies and society at large.
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“We remain hopeful that together we can identify sustainable solutions that promote discipline, learner well-being and a conducive learning environment,” said Mwangi.
By Morris Ochieng
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