Nakuru Girls High School closed indefinitely after students riot, destroy exam materials

Nakuru Girls High School has been closed indefinitely after a Tuesday night disturbance that led to widespread destruction of property and the loss of end-of-term examination materials.

The chaos erupted shortly after 9:30 pm when a group of students disrupted normal school activities, leading to the breach of the examination and evaluation room.

In a statement to parents, school principal Rose Menjo said students destroyed all examination papers prepared for all classes. She added that several windows were also broken during the incident.

“The extent of the damages will be assessed by the State Department of Public Works today, July 23, 2025. The situation in the school has been contained, and all the students are safe,” she said.

Following the destruction, Menjo announced the school's immediate closure and advised parents to pick up their children.

“The school closes today, July 23, 2025, at 8:00 am till further notice. Please make arrangements to facilitate your daughter’s travel,” she stated.

The school will now work closely with relevant government agencies to assess the damage and determine when learning can resume.

The closure of Nakuru Girls’ High School has become the latest in a growing list of student unrest incidents disrupting learning just days before national examinations. The school was shut down following student protests, joining several other institutions grappling with similar disruptions.

In Bomet County, Kaplong Girls High School was closed on Sunday, July 20, under similar circumstances. The school’s principal later confirmed that the protests were triggered by serious concerns among students, who were reportedly disturbed by allegations of inappropriate conduct involving some members of the teaching staff.

Meanwhile, in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Tambach Boys High School was also forced to close after students staged a coordinated protest at around 3:00 am. The cause of their walkout was not officially disclosed, but the incident added to the growing tension in the education sector.

Since the start of July, operations in more than 10 schools across the country have been interrupted due to student unrest. While some protests have been linked to specific grievances, others appear to hint at deeper and unresolved issues within school environments.

On Sunday, students at Chebisaas Boys High School in Uasin Gishu County disrupted learning and walked out of the school premises, claiming dissatisfaction with a weekend concert they found disappointing.

Earlier on June 11, students from Litein Boys High School went on a rampage, reportedly over undercooked rice served during dinner. The incident was among the first in the latest wave of school unrest that continues to spread.

The string of disruptions, many of them in well-regarded institutions, has raised fresh concerns about school management, student welfare, and the general preparedness of learners as the examination season approaches.