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Learning in schools paralysed on day of fuel protests
Police on horseback patrol Nairobi's Central Business District after matatu operators with drew their vehicles to protest over rising fuel prices on May 18, 2026.
What you need to know:
- The demonstrations paralysed transport operations in Nairobi, Mombasa, Machakos, and Kiambu.
- School administrators were forced to make last-minute decisions to ask parents to keep learners at home.
Learning in several parts of the country was disrupted on Monday after both private and public day schools suspended classes over safety fears linked to the ongoing protests against rising fuel prices.
The demonstrations paralysed transport operations in Nairobi and several major towns including Mombasa, Machakos, and Kiambu, forcing school administrators to make last-minute decisions to ask parents to keep learners at home.
Several schools issued notices to parents on Sunday night announcing the temporary closure of institutions, citing concerns over the safety of students, teachers and school transport fleets amid growing tensions on major roads.
Students walk back home in Juja, Kiambu County following a strike by matatu operators over rising fuel prices on May 18, 2026.
In messages sent to parents, school administrations said the uncertainty surrounding the protests made it difficult to guarantee safe movement of learners, especially those relying on school buses and public transport.
“At the moment, we cannot assure parents of the safety of our learners and staff due to the ongoing demonstrations and disruptions witnessed across various roads,” one school said in a notice to parents.
Other institutions noted that some of their buses could not access certain routes because of barricades and traffic congestion caused by protesters.
The protests, largely driven by frustrations over the increasing cost of fuel and the rising cost of living, affected movement in major urban centres and surrounding areas. In some locations, businesses remained closed while matatu operators scaled down services fearing violence and destruction of property.
Parents expressed frustration over the abrupt interruption of the school calendar, saying the closures had disrupted normal learning programmes.
“I had already prepared my children for school only to receive a message late at night that classes had been suspended,” said a parent in Mombasa.
Members of the public walk to work in Kisumu after matatu operators with drew their vehicles to protest over rising furl prices on May 18, 2026.
“We understand the safety concerns, but this has become difficult for families and learners. Will schools refund the lunch money we had already paid?” asked a parent in Nairobi.
Teachers and education stakeholders also warned that prolonged disruptions could negatively affect syllabus coverage, especially for candidates preparing for national examinations.
Some schools however opted for virtual learning sessions to minimise interruptions, while others said they would communicate new reporting dates depending on how the situation unfolds.
By Monday afternoon, some schools had indicated they would reassess the situation before making decisions on whether learning would resume on Tuesday.
As protests over fuel prices continue, thousands of learners remain caught in the middle of a crisis that is increasingly affecting daily life, business operations and access to education across the country.
The National Parents Association (NPA) expressed concern over the ongoing demonstrations sparked by the rising fuel prices, warning that the unrest is disrupting learning and putting students’ academic progress at risk.
The association appealed to the Ministry of Education to consider the challenges currently facing learners, noting that Grade 10 students had already reported to school late, while some are still at home because their families cannot afford school fees and other requirements.
NPA said continued demonstrations would further interfere with the school calendar, making it difficult for students to complete the syllabus on time and negatively affecting their future academic performance.
The association particularly raised concern over Form Four candidates in day schools, saying they are expected to be preparing for their national examinations but are now facing disruptions caused by insecurity and transport challenges.
“Day scholars are unable to attend school due to lack of means and insecurity caused by the demonstrations,” the association said.
The parents’ body is now urging the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities to seek an amicable solution to the crisis for the sake of innocent students and teachers.
The National Parents Association (NPA) has expressed concern over the ongoing demonstrations sparked by the rising fuel prices, warning that the unrest is disrupting learning and putting students’ academic progress at risk.
Students walk back home in Juja, Kiambu County following a strike by matatu operators over rising fuel prices on May 18, 2026.
The association appealed to the state to consider the challenges currently facing learners, noting that Grade 10 students had already reported to school late, while some are still at home because their families cannot afford school fees and other requirements.
NPA said continued demonstrations would further interfere with the school calendar, making it difficult for students to complete the syllabus on time and negatively affecting their future academic performance.
The association particularly raised concern over Form Four candidates in day schools, saying they are expected to be preparing for their national examinations but are now facing disruptions caused by insecurity and transport challenges.
“Day scholars are unable to attend school due to lack of means and insecurity caused by the demonstrations,” the association chairman Mr Silas Obuhatsa said.
The parents’ body urged the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities to seek an amicable solution to the crisis for the sake of innocent students and teachers.
NPA also called on the government to urgently address the fuel price issue and restore normalcy so that learning can fully resume across the country.
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