At least three secondary schools in Garissa township have sent learners on early midterm break due to student unrest.
Garissa High School, County High School and Boystown Secondary School were on Wednesday closed indefinitely following violent protests that resulted in damage to school property.
The riots were started by students at Garissa High School on Monday night where they damaged a school bus and private vehicle belonging to one of their teachers.
Police were called in and at least one Form 1 student was injured in the melee that went on until late in the night.
Officials said the students at Garissa High were protesting management's decision to outlaw mobile phone usage and wearing of civilian clothes to class.
A section of students at County High School took that as a cue and started pelting their teachers with stones prompting immediate closure of the institution for midterm break.
Come early Wednesday morning, Boystown Secondary School went on a rampage within and outside the school compound pelting teachers with stones, they also destroyed equipment at the institution.
The irate students broke into offices destroying computers, printers and other school property as teachers watched in shock.
Teachers told the press the students were enraged and directed their anger at them, hauling stones at them prompting them to take cover in the staff room.
"We thank God that no one has been injured, it was a terrible experience," a teacher who declined to be identified for fear of reprisal said.
Boystown Secondary School Deputy Principal Osman Hussein said the students were joined by civilians from around the school during the rampage.
"Even those who were on suspension were among them, students have been sent home, the board will further make more decisions," he said.
Commenting on the unrest, Garissa Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Chesut said the bigger issue causing the trouble is midterm exams phobia.
"All issues raised are not genuine, it doesn’t make sense for students to be allowed to not wear uniform within the school, schools have rules and regulations that are to be followed," he said.
For Boystown, he said the issues have been that they were not allowed to have uniforms with pockets during examinations to prevent possible cheating.
He said 12 students have been identified at Garissa High who were ring leaders and action will be taken against them.
The administrator also said two students from Garissa High have been identified to have participated in chaos at Boystown.
"Situation is now calm, everything is under control, we will not allow few individual to cause problems in our town," he said.
