A Kericho High Court has certified as urgent an application filed by parents of Litein Boys High School seeking to halt the implementation of a directive requiring each student to pay Ksh49,699 as compensation for damages caused during a recent student unrest.
The parents, represented through lawyer Shadrack Wambui and Sheria Mtaani, filed a petition challenging the school’s Board of Management (BOM) decision that each student should bear an equal share of the losses incurred after several buildings were destroyed in a fire outbreak during the unrest.
In directions issued on Monday, October 13, 2025, Justice Sergon Joseph ordered that the petition be served to the Litein BOM, the Chief Principal, the Kericho County Education Director, and the Ministry of Education. The court further directed the respondents to file their responses within three days from the date of service.
The parents are seeking conservatory orders to temporarily suspend the Ksh49,699 charge until the matter is fully heard and determined. They argue that the decision to levy the charge was arbitrary and lacked transparency, as the school and education officials have failed to disclose how the total loss figure was calculated despite several requests for clarification.
The petitioners emphasized that while they do not oppose contributing to legitimate repair costs, they insist the process must be transparent, inclusive, and based on a verifiable assessment of the damages. They have also urged the court to compel the BOM and the principal to readmit all students immediately, with priority given to the Form Four candidates preparing for the upcoming Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations scheduled to begin on October 21, 2025.
The parents stressed the urgency of reopening the school to ensure learning continuity, noting that over 400 Form Four students are at risk of losing valuable preparation time. The petition further seeks interim orders preventing the enforcement of the school’s directive to collect the Ksh49,699 or any other unsubstantiated amount pending judicial review.
The court scheduled the matter for mention on October 23, 2025, to set a date for judgment. The case has drawn national attention, highlighting growing tensions between school administrations and parents over the financial burden of compensating for unrest-related damages.
