By Arnold Ageta
The Kenya National Union of Teachers’ (KNUT) Nyamira branch has warned that if the Ministry of Education continues to issue conflicting statements, the school unrest is bound to escalate.
In a press statement issued on Sunday and signed by the branch’s Executive Secretary, Evans Obiri, the KNUT Nyamira branch stated it is outraged and heartbroken by the incidents of loss of life and destruction of schools through fire incidents which have been witnessed across the country.
The statement further says that the Ministry of Education is issuing confusing and conflicting statements while refusing to act decisively to salvage the situation and prevent further escalation.
“This is a national safety emergency measure, not a routine term date issue,” read the statement.
Mr. Obiri, in his statement to the press, opined that the fire incident at Utumishi Girls’ Academy, Gilgil on May 28, 2026 where 16 girls burnt to death while 79 others were injured is a clear indication of the MoE’s failure to address the issue.
“Schools are closing indefinitely and over 100 school fires have been recorded in the past two weeks alone, with Kisii School, Nyambaria, and Sironga being part of the statistics,” said Obiri in the statement.
He sympathized with teachers who, he said, are forced to watch overcrowded, unsafe dormitories with no fire equipment, no trained wardens, and no protection.
The statement demands that the MoE suspend the current calendar effective immediately and declare a 14-day half-term break for all primary and secondary schools.
“You cannot teach a dead child. You cannot cover a syllabus on top of graves. Some schools have suspended learning and sent students home indefinitely,” Mr. Obiri explained.
He warned that keeping other students in school adds no value and that there is a need for a collective and long-lasting remedy to the student unrest and school fire menace.
Mr. Obiri demands that there must be a mandatory safety audit during the half-term for all boarding schools in the country.
The audit, he says, must be led by a multi-agency team and cover dormitory capacity, fire exits, electrical systems, firefighting equipment, and compliance with the Safety Standards Manual.
“Any school that fails must close boarding with immediate effect. The lives of our children should be treated with urgency,” he demanded.
The statement singles out contradictory press statements issued by the MoE officials and the PS, Julius Bitok.
“Publish the audit criteria and have the results publicly displayed. Parents, teachers, and other stakeholders deserve the truth, not PR spin,” he told the MoE.
Julius Bitok had ruled out the possibility of altering the school calendar for this term, claiming the school unrest is not affecting the majority of schools.
“Most learning activities are going on uninterrupted in many schools. Therefore, learning activities will continue as outlined in the school calendar for the remaining part of the term,” Bitok announced.
Another demand the statement makes is for immediate psychosocial support to all affected schools, saying no child, teacher, or parent should face this trauma alone.
The statement concludes by saying the KNUT Nyamira branch will not allow teachers and learners to be sacrificed for the sake of a calendar.
Obiri warned that if the MoE cannot guarantee safety, then KNUT shall advise parents and teachers to keep children out of unsafe boarding facilities.
“The lives of Kenyan children are not negotiable. The time for press statements is over. This is the time for action,” the statement concluded.
