Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii has criticised Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok over remarks suggesting that school heads could negotiate with students on examination schedules as a way of addressing rising unrest in secondary schools.

The governor, in a Facebook post dated Sunday, June 7, 2026, said such proposals undermine established education laws and risk weakening discipline in schools.

He urged religious leaders to pray for the PS, describing his remarks as misleading.

“Bishop, pray for PS Bitok kwa sababu ile utterance aliyoitoa juzi kwamba a whole technical person wa President anamislead country kwamba unaweza kaa chini unegotiate na mtoto wa shule umwambie siku ya mtihani ni siku fulani ama tusongeshe mbele kidogo, it is not possible si ni sheria,” he said.

Dispute over exam management approach

The comments follow PS Bitok’s earlier remarks, where he urged school administrators to engage students in dialogue when handling exam-related tensions.

Bitok said schools should be open to conversations with learners to understand the causes of unrest, particularly where exam pressure is a trigger for disruption.

“Let us have a conversation with the students. If they are not ready for a mock exam, you should be able to engage them; they should be able to tell you if that is what is causing tension in our schools,” he said.

He added that postponing assessments could be preferable to situations that result in the destruction of school property.

“You’d rather postpone the tests than have a burnt-down institution,” Bitok said, while ruling out early closure of schools.

Rising unrest in secondary schools

The disagreement comes amid increased incidents of unrest in secondary schools across the country since early May 2026, with several institutions temporarily closed following dormitory fires, protests and destruction of property.

Schools affected include Kakamega High School, Kisii School and other institutions in different counties, prompting concern from education stakeholders over safety, discipline and academic continuity.

The Ministry of Education has maintained that learning should continue in most schools while investigations into the causes of unrest proceed.

Political and policy tensions emerge

The exchange has also drawn attention due to the political dynamics in Uasin Gishu County, where both leaders are seen as key figures ahead of the 2027 election cycle.

Education stakeholders have expressed mixed views on the issue, with some supporting dialogue-based approaches to reduce pressure on learners, while others argue that strict adherence to examination regulations is necessary to maintain order and credibility in the education system.

The Ministry is expected to provide further guidance as it reviews ongoing unrest cases and examines possible long-term interventions to stabilise learning institutions across the country.