NAIROBI, Kenya — Several schools across Kenya have been forced to close following a series of unrest incidents, with State House Girls High School in Nairobi among the latest to be shut indefinitely as precautionary measures are taken to ensure student safety.
Parents were asked to pick up their daughters on Tuesday morning after the school administration cited rising tension among learners and a broader pattern of unrest in schools across the country.
In a message to parents, Chief Principal J. Mwongera said the decision was taken to safeguard students.
“Due to the unrest currently being experienced in some schools across the country and indications of restlessness within our school, parents/guardians are requested to pick their daughters on Tuesday, 9th June, 2026 at 8am as a precautionary measure to safeguard their safety and well-being,” the message read.
In Nyamira County, a fire broke out at Gonzaga Gonza Isoge Secondary School in Borabu. No injuries were reported.
Students were released and sent home as investigations began to establish the cause of the fire.
In Kisumu County, ACK Rae Girls High School in Nyakach was also closed indefinitely after a dormitory was destroyed in a fire incident that occurred at around 5:30 pm.
Chief Principal Janet Otieno confirmed the closure in a message to parents.
“Following a fire incident in one of our dormitories, the board has decided that you either come for your daughter or make arrangements for her to come home by 9am tomorrow. Meanwhile, all the girls are safe. More communication will be given in due course,” she said.
In Tharaka Nithi County, parents were instructed to pick up their daughters from Chogoria Girls High School following an incident of unrest. No injuries were reported, but the disruption prompted an immediate evacuation.
The latest incidents come amid a growing wave of school unrest across the country, raising concerns over student safety and institutional preparedness. In recent months, several schools have been disrupted, with some cases involving destruction of property and dormitory fires.
The most severe incident remains the Utumishi Girls tragedy, where 16 learners lost their lives in a dormitory fire.
Despite rising concerns, the government has ruled out nationwide school closures.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the ministry will not bow to pressure to shut down schools, insisting that disciplinary issues must be addressed without disrupting learning.
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Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura also dismissed proposals to abolish boarding schools as a solution to unrest.
“You cannot argue that removing or scrapping boarding schools will instil discipline among students… Removing boarding schools is not the solution,” he said.
Mwaura noted that similar challenges, including teenage pregnancies, are also present in day schools, arguing that the problem is broader than school structure alone.
Authorities have launched investigations into the various incidents as education stakeholders call for stronger safety mechanisms and early warning systems to prevent further disruptions in learning institutions.
