Mbale High School in western Kenya has been closed indefinitely for the second time this year following student unrest and destruction of school property.

The latest strike that happened on Wednesday night has elicited strong concerns over external interference as stakeholders in Vihiga County demand thorough investigations to establish the root cause of frequent student unrest.

KUPPET Vihiga branch Executive Secretary Sabala Inyeni has called for urgent investigations into the crisis, insisting that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations must probe and come up with a detailed report on the cause of unrest.

He described the students’ demands as minor issues that could have been easily addressed and warned that possible external interference may be influencing the students’ unruly behaviour.

“We need to probe if there’s external incitement contributing to this conduct,” Inyeni observed. He noted that the host community and all stakeholders must come on board to help restore normalcy.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Maurice Chalenga echoed the concerns, terming the situation as deeply troubling.

The school has experienced several disturbing incidents lately, including arson and student riots, which have severely disrupted learning.  Chalenga expressed concern, urging security agencies that include county administration, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to step in and get to the bottom of the crisis.

“This is no longer just a school problem; it is becoming a national issue,” he said adding: “We must establish whether the problem is internal or external. Any form of incitement, whether by teachers, non-teaching staff or even parents, must be thoroughly investigated.”

Chalenga further appealed to the Ministry of Education to lead the probe into the matter.

According to reliable sources, the school suffered significant property damage in the latest unrest. “Only last month, the institution was closed following another incident where students vandalised a newly repaired computer lab. In that case, parents were forced to shoulder the cost, with each paying Sh12, 500, while the parents of those directly involved were charged Sh30, 000 each,” he said.

“I am shocked by the behaviour of the students. They have destroyed school property, some of which had just been repaired. This calls for a serious conversation to understand what is triggering this wave of unrests,” Chalenga stressed.

He warned that the indefinite closure has not only resulted in the loss of a full academic term but also tarnished the image of one of the region’s most respected institutions. The repercussions, he said, extend beyond academics with school staff potentially going unpaid and parents incurring heavy financial burdens.

“Parents are now being forced to pay full-term fees and also cover damages despite their children not learning. It’s a double loss,” he added.

As the school remains shut, education officials, parents, teachers, and security agencies are expected to convene soon to chart the way forward.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Rose Wasike and Terry Munikah