What began as a protest against the appointment quickly descended into running battles between students and teachers, with stones flying across the school compound.
Within minutes, the school had turned into a battleground as learners abandoned classrooms, some concealing their identities with paper bags over their heads as they advanced on teachers and hurled stones at close range
Caught off guard, teachers scrambled for safety before attempting to restore order. Outnumbered by the agitated students, they were eventually forced to retreat as the violence intensified, bringing learning to a standstill for hours.
The unrest soon took a destructive turn when enraged students stormed one of the school’s dormitories and set it ablaze in broad daylight. Thick plumes of smoke billowed across the compound as flames rapidly engulfed the building.
Moments later, students forced open the main gate and streamed out of the compound, chanting that they would not accept the newly posted principal, who had recently been transferred from Mochorwa Secondary School.
The violence triggered a swift response from education and security officials. Kisii County Director of Education Philip Chirchir, accompanied by senior security officers, arrived at the school to assess the damage and oversee efforts to restore order.
The institution was immediately closed indefinitely, with students ordered to vacate the premises as police launched investigations into the unrest and the torching of the dormitory.
The incident has renewed concerns over the growing wave of violent student unrest in schools across the country.
