Litein Boys High School Closed Indefinitely After Night of Chaos

Litein Boys High School in Bureti Constituency, Kericho County, has been closed indefinitely following a violent Sunday night unrest that left classrooms torched , offices vandalized, and property destroyed.

According to police reports, eight students were arrested after being found with property allegedly belonging to school staff. The unrest, which escalated from Sunday afternoon into the night, saw students go on a rampage in protest of what they described as authoritarianism by the school principal.

The aftermath was visible on Monday morning ;tattered books, shards of broken glass, and charred debris scattered across the school compound. Classroom walls saw no mercies of the boys’outrage  as neighbors recalled hearing commotion throughout the evening.

“We heard the children fighting each other. They even tried to break into Litein Girls High School. Police were present, but a lot of destruction had already been done,” one resident recounted.

Parents have expressed concern over repeated cases of indiscipline at the institution, noting that the school has suffered acts of vandalism four times in the past three years.

Education officials condemned the violence. Education PS Julius Betok,  warned students against hooliganism and directed regional education officers to adopt more vigilant measures to prevent such destructive behavior.

“We are here to listen to the students, the parents, and the board so that we can have a collaborative management style,” one education official said during a visit to the school.

During the chaos, police were forced to fire tear gas to contain the situation as some students attempted to escape the compound, while others tried to bring down the perimeter fence. A night guard was also attacked and stoned, forcing him to flee.

The indefinite closure has sparked concern about the future of the students as authorities, parents, and school management deliberate on lasting solutions to the recurring unrest especially as the national exams are forthcoming.

Ends…

By Bosibori

John

The author is an experienced radio journalist and media manager.