During a parents' meeting at Jomo Kenyatta Boys High School in Nakuru on August 12, 2026, a Form 4 student's unexpected message in a parents-only WhatsApp group shed light on the circumstances that led to the June student strike.
The student detailed a series of events beginning with a Sunday evening riot triggered by grievances against an assistant boarding master accused of harsh corporal punishment. Following the unrest, students were sent home and required to pay KSh 4,400 each to cover damages to school property.
Upon their return three weeks later, the student described a tense environment where teachers insulted pupils, students had to issue formal apologies, and the school operated under armed police supervision, creating a feeling of being treated like "prisoners and goons."
Further disruption occurred on a day referred to as "11," when a career fair, an annual general meeting, a Christian Union rally, and a planned trip were all cancelled. Students were suspended early that morning and relocated dormitory by dormitory to classrooms, leading to a fresh strike by 6am.
Parents who attended the meeting were also shown videos of lice-infested dormitories and learned that the school compound was poorly maintained. A parent from Grade 10 described the conditions as "appalling." It was revealed that the Board of Management had not convened an AGM for three to four years, leaving parents uninformed about school governance.
The school's principal has been interdicted, confirmed by a Teachers Service Commission representative during the meeting. Parents were informed they must collectively raise KSh 16.89 million to cover the riot-related damages, with the school's insurer contributing an additional KSh 10 million.
Some parents contested the demand, citing that the strike was sparked by a political event where students were promised a bull but instead received bread and soda. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other agencies are reportedly investigating the incident.
The June strike had escalated to students setting fire to classrooms and administrative offices, leaving the school community and parents grappling with the aftermath of this unprecedented disruption.
