Aasai

Learning activities at Nakuru High School have been suspended indefinitely following a violent student riot on the evening of Sunday, February 9.

The students went on a rampage, vandalizing school property over various grievances, primarily centered around dissatisfaction with the schools meal plan.

Chaos Erupts Over Food Concerns

According to reports, the well-organized protest began at 8:50 PM and lasted for at least six hours before police were called in to restore order. Before the authorities intervened, the students caused significant destruction, damaging several facilities, including the administration block, classrooms, and dormitories.

In an unexpected turn, some of the rioting students broke into the dining hall and food storage area, stealing supplies. Some reportedly began eating the food on the spot.

Key Grievances Spark Protests

It has emerged that the riot was largely triggered by the removal of a mid-morning tea break, which traditionally included tea and bread. Students expressed outrage over the administrations decision to eliminate the meal from the schedule.

Additional complaints included:

• The introduction of a card payment system at the school canteen, replacing cash transactions.
• The removal of milk from the morning tea, which students claimed negatively impacted their welfare.
• Unfulfilled promises regarding entertainment facilities, despite students having contributed funds for their improvement.

Authorities Step In

Following the six-hour standoff, police officers, alongside Nakuru County Director of Education Victoria Mulili, intervened to restore calm.

By Monday, February 10, the school was nearly deserted after students were sent home. Reports suggest that Nakuru High School will remain closed for at least a week.

This incident is the latest in a series of student unrest cases in the country. Just two weeks prior, students from Teremi High School in Bungoma County staged a protest over poor KCSE examination performance. In that case, angry students stormed the principals residence, damaging his house and vehicle.

Authorities are now investigating the Nakuru High School riot as they assess potential disciplinary actions.