258 Makueni Boys KCSE Candidates Suspended for Refusing to Shave Beards

The management of Makueni Boys High School has suspended the entire Form Four class of 258 students for allegedly refusing to shave their beards.

Reports indicate that the KCSE candidates went on a riot on Friday evening to protest an order requiring them to trim their beards and heads every month.

The school’s principal Raphael Katana, who issued the directive was stoned and injured during the unrest and was taken Makueni Hospital, where he was treated and discharged on Saturday.

Addressing reporters, Katana said most of the suspended learners were growing full beards and kept a head full of hair, which is against a school policy that has been in place since the institution was established in 1966.

“We shave our students every month, all the students in other classes got their haircuts, but the Form Fours refused, as per the Ministry of Education guidelines, we sent all of them home because they became rowdy,” said Katana.

The school head said the students were sent away for two weeks to pave the way for investigations.

Makueni County Police Commander Joseph Ole Napeiyan while confirming the incident said police arrived at the school and restored normalcy.