Litein Boys High School in Kericho County has been shut down indefinitely after a night of chaos and destruction on Sunday, September 21, when students staged a violent uprising.
The unrest began shortly after 9:00 p.m. following complaints over poorly cooked rice served for supper. What started as murmurs of dissatisfaction quickly spiraled into widespread disorder across the compound.
Students armed with stones overpowered school security, smashing classroom windows, breaking furniture, and vandalizing the main gate. The school watchman was pelted with stones and forced to flee for his safety.
As the rampage intensified, officers from Litein Police Station and Bureti Sub-County rushed to the scene. Tear gas was lobbed into the compound to scatter rowdy learners, some of whom attempted to scale the fence.
By dawn, the damage was staggering. Four classrooms had been wrecked, window panes shattered, and parts of the library and computer laboratories torched. One building was reduced to ashes in the overnight mayhem.
Authorities now estimate the losses will run into millions of shillings. Litein OCPD Benedict Chirchir confirmed the incident, saying investigations were underway to identify those behind the violence.
The institution, once a beacon of academic excellence in Kericho, has increasingly found itself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. This marks the second major strike within two years, after a 2023 riot left property vandalized.
Parents and alumni expressed deep concern over the recurring unrest, lamenting that the reputation of their former school is being eroded. They also decried the disruption to learning at a time when candidates are preparing for national exams.
The National Parents Association called for urgent dialogue between education officials, the school board, and students to restore order and instill discipline. They warned that if unchecked, indiscipline could jeopardize the future of many learners.
As investigations continue, the Ministry of Education is expected to issue directives on the way forward. Meanwhile, hundreds of students have been sent home indefinitely, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over Litein Boys High School.
SOURCE: STANDARD NEWS
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