Kenya’s teachers union is pushing the government to immediately grant schools a one-week break as a wave of student strikes, dormitory fires, and violent unrest continues to spread across secondary schools nationwide, raising urgent questions about student safety and the stability of the 2026 academic year.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has formally intervened, with National Chairman and Emuhaya Member of Parliament Omboko Milemba calling on Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok to convene an emergency national stakeholder summit by the end of this week.
“The rising cases of dormitory fires, student unrest and school disruptions across the country have become a serious concern that can no longer be ignored,” Milemba said while addressing the media in Vihiga County on Monday.
He proposed a broad-based forum bringing together church leaders, parents, teachers, school boards, and education officials to interrogate the root causes of the unrest and craft lasting solutions.
“Let us bring together all stakeholders to openly discuss these challenges and develop lasting solutions to this growing menace in our boarding schools,” he said, warning that continued inaction could force the Ministry to consider a nationwide short break.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori backed the call, urging school administrators to remain vigilant and move swiftly where early signs of tension are detected.
“What we are witnessing is not merely indiscipline. There are underlying issues that must be interrogated. Parents, teachers, church leaders and government officials must come together and listen to our learners,” Misori said.
The union’s intervention comes against a backdrop of alarming destruction. The unrest reached a devastating peak at Utumishi Girls Academy, where a suspected arson attack in a dormitory claimed the lives of 16 students. Nine learners have since been charged in court over the incident. Other prestigious institutions, including Alliance High School, Lenana School, Loreto Girls High School in Limuru, and Maranda High School, have also been forced to suspend operations.
At the county level, KUPPET Kisumu Secretary George Osur has been vocal about the strain teachers face, particularly those living on school compounds. He argues that a brief, structured closure would create space for dialogue, parent sensitization, and institutional review — preventing further dropouts and restoring a safe learning environment.
The government, however, has held firm. PS Bitok has ruled out any alteration to the school calendar, insisting that only 80 of Kenya’s 9,500 schools have been affected and that disrupting the calendar for 99.2 percent of learners is unjustifiable.
The standoff leaves teachers trapped between a mounting crisis and an unyielding administration. With national examinations approaching and deeper grievances — including unpaid arrears, stalled teacher promotions, and a failing medical scheme — simmering beneath the surface, the pressure on the Ministry to act is becoming impossible to ignore.
