Education stakeholders in Nyanza region have raised concern over the rising cases of student unrest in secondary schools, attributing the trend to a combination of peer pressure, congestion in schools, delayed government capitation, examination anxiety, weak deterrent measures, and external influence.
The concerns emerged during a high-level education stakeholders’ forum convened by Nyanza Regional Director of Education Mr Lawrence Karintima at Migori Boys High School on Tuesday.
The meeting brought together principals, education officers, teachers’ unions, security agencies, and other key stakeholders to develop strategies aimed at restoring discipline and stability in learning institutions.
The forum comes amid a resurgence of student unrest witnessed in several schools across the country, with cases ranging from arson attacks on dormitories to destruction of school property and violent demonstrations.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Karintima said the region was determined to tackle the root causes of unrest before the situation escalates further.
“The issue of student unrest requires collective responsibility. Principals must practice effective delegation of duties, seek feedback from staff, and embrace collaborative leadership. No school head should operate in isolation because silo mentality is affecting service delivery in some institutions,” said Karintima.
The regional education boss further revealed that more than 100 students across the Nyanza region are currently facing legal action over their involvement in school disturbances.
“We commend the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for their swift response whenever incidents occur. Accountability remains critical if we are to deter future acts of destruction,” he added.
Karantima also faulted school administrators for contributing to congestion in some institutions through over-enrollment.
“The challenge is not entirely the government’s 100 percent transition policy. We have schools that are under-enrolled while others exceed their capacities. School heads must adhere to admission guidelines to address congestion.”
He dismissed allegations of widespread examination malpractice in the region.
“No school in Migori County was implicated in examination cheating during the last national examinations. We must continue safeguarding the integrity of our education system.”
Migori County Commissioner Mr. Kisilu Mutua called for stronger collaboration between schools and security agencies, noting that early intelligence gathering could help prevent unrest before it erupts.
“School administrators must work closely with security officers. Most disturbances do not happen overnight; there are always warning signs. Sharing information early can help avert crises,” said Mutua.
He emphasized the need for parents to play a more active role in their children’s upbringing, warning that schools cannot single-handedly address discipline challenges.
Migori County Director of Education Mr. Jacob Onyiego pointed to delayed capitation and the pressure created by the government’s 100 percent transition policy as major contributors to challenges facing schools, a move he says is being addressed.
“Delayed capitation and the effects of the 100 percent transition policy have strained many institutions. We are undertaking audits to identify and correct anomalies affecting learning environments,” Onyiego said.
“Our goal is to make schools comfortable for learners and ensure that infrastructure development matches enrollment levels.”
Regional Causes of Unrest
During breakout sessions, principals identified unique causes of unrest in different educational zones.
In the Kuria region, school heads cited at least 13 factors fueling indiscipline, including external influence, peer pressure, examination avoidance due to poor academic preparedness, weak disciplinary measures, information sharing between students from different schools, excessive entertainment exposure, teacher-related challenges, delayed capitation, and poor fee payment by parents.
Participants also noted that some students have developed a belief that they can succeed academically without adequate preparation, leading to frustration and unrest when examinations approach.
School heads from the Sugar Belt region reported that students increasingly show little fear of disciplinary action. They also cited demands for improved diets, calls by some girls for greater flexibility in dress codes, congestion in schools, rigorous academic routines, and alleged silent incitement by some non-teaching staff.
The Nyatike and Suna regions identified peer influence, inadequate communication channels between students and administrators, overburdened deputy principals, and weak disciplinary structures as major concerns.
Some principals further raised alarm over the growing influence of occult practices among learners and called for stronger religious and guidance programs in schools.
Proposed Solutions
The stakeholders proposed several interventions, including strengthening parental involvement, reviewing policies governing electronic gadgets in schools, regulating online meetings and social media content accessed by learners, and enhancing co-curricular activities to reduce student fatigue.
School heads also recommended reviewing school calendars and half-term schedules, expanding infrastructure to match enrollment levels, and enforcing admission capacities to curb congestion.
Other proposals included identifying habitual troublemakers for specialized intervention, establishing functional student discipline committees, strengthening guidance and counseling departments, and hiring more teachers to ease workload pressures.
Participants further called for a review of the implementation of the 100 percent transition policy to allow struggling learners more flexibility in progression through the education system.
Background: A Country Grappling with School Unrest
The Migori meeting comes against the backdrop of a worrying resurgence of student unrest in Kenya’s secondary schools.
In recent years, dozens of schools across the country have experienced dormitory fires, destruction of property, and student strikes, particularly during the second term when academic pressure intensifies.
Education experts have linked the trend to examination anxiety, overcrowding resulting from increased enrollment under the 100 percent transition policy, social media influence, mental health challenges, inadequate parental guidance, and delayed government funding.
The situation has prompted increased scrutiny from education authorities and security agencies, with the government warning that students found culpable for acts of arson and vandalism will face criminal prosecution.
As schools prepare for the final phase of the academic calendar, education stakeholders in Migori County and Nyanza at large say the focus must shift from reacting to unrest to preventing it through stronger leadership, adequate funding, parental engagement, and meaningful student participation in school governance.
“Discipline is not achieved through punishment alone. It requires collaboration between teachers, parents, students, security agencies, and policymakers,” Karantima told the gathering. “If we work together, we can restore stability in our schools and protect the future of our learners.”
About the Author
