The violent wave of student unrest across schools nationwide appears to have subsided, giving way to a heated blame game among parents, teachers, school administrators and government officials over who should be held accountable for the disruption to learning, destruction of property and loss of lives.
President William Ruto has also waded into the debate, saying that society should not shift blame to schools and government institutions whenever learners engage in destructive behaviour.
"Our children are not the responsibility of the government alone. It is first and foremost the responsibility of parents. Society should stop shifting blame to schools and government institutions whenever learners engage in destructive behaviour," the President said last month when he attended the Rhino Charge event in Wamba, Samburu County.
A task force that was promised by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to find solutions to the school unrest is yet to be appointed.
However, a parents’ lobby has turned the spotlight on schools and education authorities, accusing them of failing to enforce safety regulations and sidelining parents from matters affecting their children.
One of the dormitories that was destroyed by a fire at St Joseph's Seminary School in Molo, Nakuru County.
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The chairperson of the National Parents Association, Silas Obuhatsa, said many school safety policies exist only on paper and have not been effectively implemented.
"The government must follow up and make sure those policies have been implemented by schools as required. If the safety regulations had been fully implemented, we would not be seeing some of these incidents," he said.
Mr Obuhatsa argued that parents have increasingly been locked out of school affairs, limiting their ability to identify and address emerging challenges before they escalate.
"Parents have not been fully involved in matters concerning schools and their children. Yet they are key stakeholders. When parents are excluded, many issues go unnoticed until they become serious problems," he said.
"Parents should be able to go to schools and engage with administrators and teachers on matters affecting their children. Today, there are so many restrictions in schools. You find areas marked 'Staff Only' and parents are not allowed access. Parents are increasingly being kept away from schools," he said.
The dormitory at Utumishi Girls Senior school that caught fire, killing scores of students while others are nursing serious injuries.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
According to Mr Obuhatsa, parents cannot be expected to shoulder responsibility for their children's conduct while being excluded from decisions that affect their welfare.
"The only way forward is to involve parents. They must be part of discussions on school rules, school management and the safety of their children," he said.
Teachers’ unions say the unrest reflects broader tensions in society rather than problems confined to schools.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima said the violence witnessed in schools mirrors the growing unrest in the country.
"What students are doing is a reflection of society. When you look at what is happening on the streets, people are burning tyres, looting buildings and engaging in violence. The tension in the country is finding its way into our schools," he said.
Mr Nthurima called on the Ministry of Education to consider an early mid-term break to help defuse tensions among learners.
"I believe schools need to be closed for the midterm break so that we can absorb the tension building within the student population. It has happened before, and I do not think we should wait for more casualties among our children," he said.
Mr Nthurima argued that school principals are increasingly being forced to confront security challenges beyond their mandate.
"Principals are not policemen. They cannot deal with criminal activities. The only practical solution for now is to allow learners to go home for a short break and return when the environment is calmer," he said.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
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The disturbances, he said, have resulted in injuries, destruction of property and, in the most tragic cases, loss of life.
"We have so far received reports of unrest affecting 204 secondary schools across the country. Of those, 59 have since returned to school and resumed their studies, with more continuing to return," Mr Ogamba said.
While acknowledging the scale of the challenge, he noted that the affected institutions account for less than two percent of senior schools nationwide, meaning most schools have remained stable.
"Whatever grievances our learners may have, there can never be justification for causing death and destroying property. Any grievances must be addressed through appropriate channels without resorting to unlawful actions or violence," he said.
To address the recurring incidents, the government plans to establish a multi-sectoral team to investigate the causes of the unrest and recommend long-term solutions.
"The current pattern of unrest should cause all of us to engage in collective reflection about our children and their future," Mr Ogamba said.
Schools have been directed to convene parents' association meetings to discuss learner welfare and safety, while parents have been urged to use the school break to engage their children and address concerns that may be affecting them.
