NAIROBI, Kenya — Lenana School in Nairobi has been closed indefinitely following student unrest that disrupted learning activities on Monday night, with parents directed to pick up their children as the institution moves to restore order and assess the situation.
In messages sent to parents on Tuesday morning, the school administration instructed all parents, guardians, or authorised representatives to collect students from the school beginning at 8:00 a.m.
The decision was reached jointly by the school’s Board of Management and administration after what officials described as restlessness and disturbances during evening preparation sessions.
“Following the restlessness and disturbance experienced during preps in the school last night, the Board of Management and the school administration have resolved to temporarily release all students to allow for restoration of normalcy and a comprehensive assessment of the situation,” part of the communication to parents stated.
The school further directed that no student would be allowed to leave the institution unaccompanied.
“You are therefore requested to pick your son from the school at 8:00 a.m. today. Kindly ensure that all students leave the school compound accompanied by a parent, guardian, or an authorised representative,” the notice added.
School yet to disclose cause of unrest
The administration did not immediately provide details on what triggered the disturbance or whether any property was damaged during the incident.
School officials said the temporary closure would allow management to conduct a thorough assessment of the situation and implement measures necessary to restore normal operations before learning resumes.
Parents were informed that further communication regarding the circumstances surrounding the unrest, as well as the reporting date for students, would be issued in due course.
“Further communication regarding the reporting date and subsequent arrangements will be provided in due course,” the administration said.
Incident comes amid rising school unrest
The closure of one of Kenya’s leading national schools comes against the backdrop of growing concern over a resurgence of student unrest in learning institutions across the country.
The latest incident occurred on the same night a fire broke out at Tarakwo High School in Bomet County.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, no casualties were reported in the Tarakwo incident, with emergency response teams deployed to manage the situation and support affected learners.
Education stakeholders have increasingly expressed concern over a series of unrest incidents that have in some cases escalated into acts of arson and destruction of school property.
Increased scrutiny after Utumishi Girls tragedy
The developments come just days after the deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, which claimed the lives of 16 students and sparked renewed debate over safety standards in boarding schools.
The tragedy prompted the government to announce a raft of measures aimed at strengthening safety and security in learning institutions.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen directed all schools to install CCTV surveillance systems in key areas to enhance monitoring and help prevent future incidents.
Also Read: Police detain 8 Utumishi Girls students in suspected arson probe
Meanwhile, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba ordered a nationwide inspection of boarding schools to assess compliance with safety regulations and identify institutions that may be exposing learners to risk.
The inspections, which began on June 2, are expected to run for 10 days.
Schools face tougher compliance measures
The government has indicated that school administrators found to have violated safety guidelines or failed to protect students adequately could face disciplinary and legal consequences.
Officials say the inspections will focus on critical areas including fire safety measures, dormitory conditions, emergency exits, student welfare systems and overall compliance with national education and safety regulations.
As investigations into the Lenana School unrest continue, attention is likely to remain fixed on student welfare and school safety, particularly as authorities seek to contain a worrying rise in unrest incidents across the country’s boarding schools.
