Ogamba Warns Nyabisase School Violence Offenders Will Face Legal Action

Kenya’s Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has warned that those responsible for the violence at Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School in Kisii County will face legal action.

Speaking in Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri County, Ogamba condemned the destruction of property and clashes between students and teachers. He said disciplinary action alone would not address the wider challenges facing schools, adding that authorities must investigate the underlying causes of unrest.

“The law will take its full course on that incident. This time we need to go deeper and establish the root cause of these challenges so that we can resolve them,” he said.

The comments follow the closure of Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School after students protested against the appointment of a new principal who had reportedly been transferred from Mochorwa Secondary School. Efforts by teachers to control the situation failed, and the protest escalated into violence, including the burning of a dormitory.

Videos shared online showed students throwing stones, with some covering their faces, as staff members moved to safety. Police have launched investigations into the incident, while education officials assess the extent of the damage.

The unrest comes amid a series of recent cases of strikes, property destruction and dormitory fires in schools across Kenya. Several institutions have been forced to suspend learning following student unrest.

Education stakeholders have pointed to several factors contributing to the problem, including opposition to administrative changes, poor communication between school leadership and learners, and wider social and economic pressures affecting students. The government’s acknowledgement that punishment alone cannot solve the issue signals a move towards a broader approach to improving school management and addressing student concerns.

During the same event, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe highlighted efforts to promote equal access to education for learners from different backgrounds. Another official said education reforms must go beyond improving infrastructure by incorporating digital technologies to prepare students for a changing world.