Parents of students at Litein Boys’ High School in Bureti Constituency, Kericho County, have been ordered to pay Sh49,699 each to cover damages following a violent student strike that left parts of the school in ruins.
The institution was closed indefinitely after the unrest, which saw property worth millions of shillings destroyed. The riotous students reportedly vandalised dormitory windows, classrooms, and sections of the dining hall. Desks were overturned, books scattered, and several fixtures smashed during the chaos. Security officers were called in after neighbours heard shouting and banging from the school late into the night.
Following a series of meetings between the Parents Association (PA), the Board of Management (BOM), teachers, and regional engineers, the total cost of damage was estimated at Sh69,578,795. The breakdown includes Sh41,929,610 for structural repairs, Sh27,281,785 for suppliers and teachers’ compensation, and Sh367,400 for consumables.
The original figure of nearly Sh100 million was revised downward after parents and engineers agreed to exclude painting costs, as the school walls were still intact. However, the PA has criticised the board, accusing it of prioritising fine collection over addressing the root causes of the student unrest.
“Our resolution to the board was declined. The causes of the strike were not discussed, and the board appears more interested in payments than the welfare of our children,” read a statement from the PA.
Parents had initially proposed a contribution of Sh10,000 per student, arguing that rebuilding the burnt dormitory should be funded through government capitation. Some parents have since hinted at seeking court intervention to challenge the fines.
The school will reopen in phases, with students returning on October 9, 13, and 16, respectively. Learners will sit for examinations immediately upon resumption, and each student must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who has cleared the required payments.
