Security bosses to meet over increased unrest in schools

Top security bosses are scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss rising cases of school unrest in the country.

The meeting of the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) will give the way forward on the issue.

This comes amid the rising cases of unrest in secondary schools. The students are citing many issues as the motivation, which security officials feel are an excuse.

Police were ordered to monitor all unrest cases and report to the headquarters for further action.

They are also supposed to respond to the incidents and take any necessary and immediate action needed to mitigate the same.

Among others, the police were ordered to advise the school management on the way forward, depending on the situation on the ground. This includes the immediate closure of the institutions.

By Monday morning, slightly over 100 schools had closed after reporting unrest.

The latest one was privately owned Sunshine High School along Langata Road in Nairobi. Parents and guardians were informed to pick up their children on Monday morning following an overnight unrest.

Officials said there were ten unrest cases reported in the country on Sunday night alone.

The meeting by NSAC will advise the way forward. There are about 9,000 secondary schools, and with slightly over 100 so far affected, the debate will be if there is a need to close all institutions now for half term as opposed to the planned end of the month period.

Officials say most of the affected schools are public and want the security chiefs to know the majority are in session as planned.

There are no official reasons cited as the cause for the unrest. The incidents have been on the rise in the past month.

Last week, 16 students were killed in a fire incident started by their colleagues at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County.

Property was destroyed, and at least seven students injured in the tragedy. Nine suspects were later arrested over the incident.

Since then, a wave of similar unrest has hit the country, forcing the planned meeting. Head of Public Service Felix Koskei will chair the meeting.

On Sunday, Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Fred Matiang'i criticised the government over what he termed as neglect in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), arguing that the programme requires a dedicated Principal Secretary to oversee its rollout and address emerging challenges affecting learners.

Speaking at M.C.K Makutano Church in Meru County, Matiang’i said delays in funding and poor management of public resources were contributing to indiscipline in some schools, warning that many principals lacked adequate support to effectively run institutions.

He called on the government to prioritise education financing and ensure that capitation funds are released to schools on time.

“Stop the wastage and channel more resources to schools so that principals have the funds they need to run institutions effectively. Capitation funds should be disbursed to schools without delay; that is a straightforward matter,” Matiang’i said.

The former Education and Interior Cabinet Secretary also urged the government to appoint a Principal Secretary specifically in charge of curriculum reforms and transition, saying CBC was a major national programme that required focused leadership and consultation with stakeholders.

The government should also appoint a Principal Secretary in charge of curriculum reforms and transition because CBC is a major national programme. We must listen to education stakeholders, principals and church leaders as we implement these reforms,” he added.

Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has blamed indiscipline for the menace so far.