Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo/HANDOUT
Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Faith Odhiambo has called for urgent national action to address the rising wave of school unrest.
She warned that recurring riots and dormitory fires point to a deeper crisis within the country's education system.
In a statement issued following the latest fire at Jomo Kenyatta Boys High School in Bahati, Nakuru county, Odhiambo urged the Ministry of Education, school boards, parents and student leaders to work together to restore safety in learning institutions.
"I call on the Ministry of Education, school boards,
parents and student leaders to treat the wave of school riots as an urgent
national concern. Secure every learner, investigate each incident thoroughly
and implement concrete safeguards and dialogue mechanisms so that schools
remain places of safety, learning and hope, not recurring scenes of fire, fear
and chaos," she said.
Odhiambo said the latest incident should serve as a wake-up call for authorities, noting that cases of unrest have become increasingly common in schools across the country.
"We are seeing too many school riots and the fire at Jomo Kenyatta Boys High School in Bahati, Nakuru, is the latest, terrifying warning that we are failing to listen to what is happening in our learning spaces," she said.
"This is not just about one school; it is part of a disturbing pattern of unrest, arson and violent protests in institutions that should be nurturing our children, not endangering them."
She warned that the frequency and severity of the incidents demonstrate that underlying tensions in schools are not being adequately addressed.
"When police and firefighters are overwhelmed by a blaze inside a school compound, it means we have allowed tensions, breakdowns in discipline and unresolved grievances to reach a dangerous boiling point," Odhiambo said.
The former LSK president urged the country to move beyond treating each incident as an isolated occurrence and instead confront the broader challenges affecting learners.
"As a country, we must stop treating these incidents as isolated drama and start confronting them as a systemic crisis. We need honest conversations about student welfare, mental health, school governance and the pressures our young people are facing, alongside firm but fair discipline and clear consequences for violence and destruction," she said.
Her remarks come amid a resurgence of school unrest that has seen several learning institutions experience riots and fires in recent weeks.
The incidents have ranged from suspected arson attacks targeting dormitories and classrooms to violent student protests that have resulted in the destruction of school property, disruption of learning and, in some cases, injuries and loss of life.
The wave of unrest has left parents, teachers and education stakeholders increasingly concerned about the safety of learners, particularly in boarding schools where dormitory fires have become a recurring challenge.
Odhiambo maintained that protecting learners must remain a national priority, saying schools should provide an environment where students feel safe to learn and thrive rather than becoming scenes of fear and destruction.
