Ambira Boys’ High School was closed indefinitely on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, after students went on a rampage, destroying property worth millions of shillings.

The violent unrest, which began on Monday, May 18, 2026, at around 8 pm and escalated until Tuesday morning, May 19, 2026, left dormitories, the computer laboratory, computers, laboratory equipment and reagents, the principal’s office, the staffroom, the bursar’s office and kitchen vandalised and looted, prompting the administration to close the institution immediately.

The strike erupted shortly after evening preps. According to initial reports, a section of the students attacked a Form Three student.

The students became rowdy and violently attacked their teachers, targeting their residences with stones and other offensive objects.

Massive damages

The onslaught left extensive damage to the principal’s office, including broken windows and doors, as well as the destruction of shelves and containers holding student result slips. The computer laboratory and recently connected Wi-Fi were not spared.

The boys spared only one computer, which they used to watch movies overnight. Some people sustained injuries during the incident, including a police officer, and were rushed to the hospital for urgent medical attention. Police officers from Ugunja Police Station were quickly deployed to restore order, but significant damage had already been done.

Wall messages emerge

Some of the writings on the walls read: “Government help us”, and “Kauko, the former principal, we miss you.” Education officials arrived on Tuesday morning and assessed the aftermath.

“The level of destruction is unprecedented. We are working with law enforcement officers to identify ringleaders and determine the root cause of the unrest,” the board chair, Eliud Owino, stated. Owino said the fate of Form Four students hangs in the balance.

“Going by internal assessment, documents and machines have been destroyed, and we are going to start from scratch.”

The deputy administration offices were destroyed. The store was looted and books cannot be traced. In fact, some students were preparing to go home, as they were seen carrying their mattresses and boxes.

Probe into the matter

In a related development, the matter has been reported to the school authorities and the police for immediate action to identify and bring the offenders to book in accordance with the law. Ugunja Deputy County Commissioner Benson James Aluodo ruled out students acting independently in the violence that rocked the institution.

“We have witnessed wanton destruction of property, and we could not restrain the students for fear that lives would have been lost,” Aluodo said.

The students had ample time to destroy property overnight because the police exercised restraint.

“We avoided shooting incidents that could have led to loss of life,” he added.

“Some of the issues raised as having triggered the protests include sodomy allegedly perpetrated by students and some teachers, drug abuse, and complaints over examination management.”

He further directed the sub-county education leadership to ensure that teachers who have worked at Ambira for more than 20 years are transferred.

“The protest in this case may be a plot by teachers who have overstayed at the institution. The perpetrators might have acted on instructions from certain teachers. Let those who have stayed at the station be transferred.”

Ugunja CDF manager Gordon Pesa, who was equally shocked by the massive destruction of property, thanked God for protecting the students.

“I want to thank God for protecting students from the horrific incident at Ambira High School. We have taken a multi-agency approach to the matter and we are confident that what triggered the destruction will be established,” Pesa said.

Pesa said a date will be set for the return of students to school, especially Form Four candidates.