Litein Boys High School fines parents Sh69.5 million over violent September unrest damage
Parents of students at Litein Boys High School in Kericho County will bear a collective fine of Sh69 million to repair extensive damage caused by a violent student riot, with restoration works set to begin before the new school term.
According to a communication from the board of management (BoM), engineers from the State Department of Public Works assessed the total damage at nearly Sh100 million. Parents will cover the larger share of Sh69 million, while the BoM will contribute Sh30 million following an appeal by the parents teachers association (PTA).
The board plans to pay its portion in phases and may seek additional support from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Any remaining balance will later be recovered from parents through the school’s development kitty.
The decision followed a meeting involving the BoM, chaired by Dr K. Kemboi, the PTA led by Abadnego Rotich, and officials from the Ministry of Education. Engineers from the State Department of Public Works presented an audit report detailing the extent of destruction and the estimated cost of repairs.
“The total cost of damages received from the State Department of Public Works is Sh69,578,795. This figure is shared among 1,400 students, with each paying Sh49,699,” the BoM said in a statement to parents.
Repair works
Parents have been directed to deposit the fines into the school’s account by October 6, 2025, to enable repair works to begin before reopening.
The PTA had earlier suggested reducing the fine to Sh10,000 per student, but the BoM ruled this out as inadequate given the extent of damage. The board will coordinate payment arrangements directly with parents.
The school will reopen in phases: Form Two students on October 9, Form Three on October 13, and Form Four on October 16.
“It has been decided that Form Two and Three students will only carry their bags and bedding, while Form Four students will carry all their belongings,” said Principal Richard Sang, who also serves as secretary to the BoM.
All outstanding fees and fines must be cleared before students are readmitted.
“Students must be accompanied by their parents, after which a general parents’ meeting will be held,” the board stated.
The unrest, which occurred two weeks ago, shocked the community and education stakeholders. Eight students were arrested and charged in court, with a week-long detention ordered to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to complete inquiries into arson, burglary, and malicious property damage.
The students, represented by advocate Naima Chelangat, were found in possession of stolen items, including laptops and teachers’ personal belongings.
Civil engineers, quantity surveyors, and electrical engineers from the State Department of Public Works and Housing, together with officials from the Ministries of Education and Interior, inspected the damage.
The school administration dismissed claims that the riot was triggered by the denial of permission to watch a football match, clarifying that students had already watched two matches on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Investigations revealed that some students were angered by the administration’s alleged refusal to cooperate with cartels involved in KCSE examination leakages. Police are also probing reports that outsiders looted school property under the cover of darkness, stealing computers, maize, rice, and beans—some of which were later recovered several kilometres away.
Broke into bursar’s office
During the rampage, students reportedly broke into the bursar’s office, damaged a safe, stole cash, destroyed documents, tampered with CCTV cameras, used the school bus to block the main gate, and looted the kitchen.
Several schools across the South Rift region have reported similar disturbances in recent weeks, sparking concern among parents and education officials. Litein Boys High School’s phased reopening is intended to ensure safety and reinforce accountability.
The institution was briefly closed again on September 30—just hours after reopening—amid fears of renewed chaos following reports that students were plotting another strike over the principal’s refusal to step down.
Videos circulating online showed students invading teachers’ quarters, cooking in school kitchens, and using the school bus to protect property. Ten students were later arrested after being identified through CCTV footage.
The Ministry of Education has yet to announce whether further disciplinary or administrative measures will be taken against the school’s leadership.
Arson remains the leading cause of fires linked to student unrest in Kenya. Parliamentary data shows that 130 school fires were recorded in 2016 and at least 63 in 2018, affecting boys’, girls’, and mixed schools alike.
