Video clips on Monday of students at Nyabisase High School in Bobasi sub-County in Kisii County pelting their teachers with stones is the lowest demonstration of indiscipline in schools.
The teachers were forced to defend themselves by throwing stones at the students, too, in the shocking scenes. Aware of CCTV cameras mounted in the school compound, the students used carrier bags to cover their faces in a bid to conceal their identities.
They set a dormitory block on fire, and by the time the violence subsided, it was a smouldering shell, a mark of a fresh wave of unrest that has hit secondary schools in Nyanza, just days after students returned from the half-term break.
Other incidents have left property destroyed, schools closed, and parents protesting additional charges beyond the standard levies to pay for the damages caused by their children.
The students at Nyabisase claimed they were protesting against the posting of a new principal following the retirement of Mr David Ogega, but it quickly degenerated into anarchy. The school was closed indefinitely as police and education officials launched investigations into the incident.
On Monday night, another fire broke out at Nduru Boys High School in South Mugirango Constituency. The inferno gutted down dormitories, but no casualties were reported.
The cause of the fire has not been established. County education officials visited the institution on Tuesday morning to assess the extent of the damage and calm tensed parents who had rushed to the school.
A burnt dormitory at Nyabondo Boys Boarding Primary School.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Last week, Bobaracho Mixed High School in Nyaribari Chache Constituency also reported a fire that destroyed a boys' dormitory. Police and the school’s board of management are investigating the matter.
Some parents with children in schools that reported fire incidents before the half-term break are now lamenting what they term as punitive charges imposed on them meant to cater for damages caused.
“We are already struggling with school fees. Now we are being asked to pay more before investigations are even complete,” said a parent from Bobasi.
Education officials in Kisii County have called for calm and promised a thorough probe into both the fires and the new levies. The Ministry of Education had last year cautioned school heads against charging parents for arson cases without following due process.
In Kisumu County, a fire incident was reported at Nyabondo Boys Boarding on Monday night, destroying part of the boarding section.
The night inferno sent students, teachers and locals into panic as emergency responders scrambled to salvage property from the dormitories. No injuries were reported following the incident. The cause of the fire is yet to be established.
Meanwhile, parents have complained about extra charges being levied on them upon returning their children whose schools were closed due to unrest or destruction of property.
In Kisumu Boys High School, for instance, parents returning their children to school had to part with Sh500 as payment for a booklet guiding the students on discipline.
The parent who shared photos of the booklet titled "Disciplinary policy and procedures 2026" with the Nation said he was ambushed by the extra charge.
"I was surprised when I was asked for Sh500 for a booklet on disciplinary procedures. They asked us to pay through an M-Pesa number, failure to which we would go back with our sons," said the parent.
A dormitory at Obera Boys High School in Ndhiwa which was destroyed by fire on June 30,2026
Photo credit: Pool
He termed the charges, which were not receipted or placed in the school fees structures, as unfair, urging the Ministry of Education to take action against the school.
In Homa Bay, police are investigating a fire incident at Father Schefer Asumbi Boys boarding school, which consumed a dormitory used by Grade Six learners. Fire broke out at the school on Sunday night when learners were in class.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Lawrence Koilem said investigations into the incident are still ongoing. He said no one was injured during the incident.
“Parents were called and briefed on what happened. Our officers have also taken up the matter,” Mr Koilem said.
Homa Bay has recorded three cases of fire outbreaks over the past week. Other incidents happened at Obera Boys Senior Secondary School and Mirogi Boys High School.
Reporting by Wycliffe Nyaberi, George Odiwuor and Rushdie Oudia
