Education expert warns of impunity behind school fires and unrest
By Faith Lagat, June 5, 2026Education expert Emmanuel Manyasa has linked recurring cases of school fires and student unrest in Kenya to what he described as a culture of impunity affecting both learners and some school administrators.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday, June 4, 2026, he said the pattern is not new, noting that similar incidents have been reported repeatedly over time without consistent accountability measures being applied.
“This is not a new situation. We have seen these fires before,” Manyasa said, adding that the problem reflects “a culture of impunity in Kenya.”
He said that in many cases, only a small group of learners is responsible for incidents of arson or unrest in schools, but they often act knowing there are no serious consequences. He cautioned against generalising such actions to entire student populations.
“There is impunity among some small groups of learners who know that nothing will be done to them because those who did it before them, nothing was done to them,” he said.
Manyasa also raised concern over practices in some schools where administrators allegedly subject learners to intense academic pressure in pursuit of high mean scores.
He said some students are made to follow extended study schedules that include late-night learning and early morning revision, which he noted goes against Ministry of Education guidelines on learner well-being.
“They are chasing mean scores of grade A. So children are made to sleep at 11, waking up at 5 or 4 in the morning… so the school can get a very nice mean score,” he said.
He added that such practices benefit institutions seeking higher rankings but place unnecessary pressure on learners and may contribute to instability in schools.
Ministry responds
The remarks come amid concerns over recent incidents of unrest in secondary schools. However, the Ministry of Education has maintained that learning is ongoing in the majority of institutions.
Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said that 99.2 percent of schools are operating normally, with only a small fraction affected by unrest. He ruled out any plans for an early closure of schools.
“We have no plans for an unscheduled closure,” Bitok said during a public event at The Kenya High School.
He attributed some of the unrest to examination pressure and urged school administrators to adopt flexible approaches when addressing student anxiety.
“If learners express anxiety… it is better to postpone a test than risk having an institution burnt down,” he said.
Strengthening school oversight and safety
Bitok said the ministry has deployed additional quality assurance officers to strengthen monitoring of schools and improve safety compliance. The number of officers has been increased to support a nationwide safety audit.
He also called for stronger counselling, mentorship, and mental health support systems in schools to address emerging challenges affecting learners.
Education stakeholders continue to push for accountability in cases of school fires, with some parents taking legal action over damages and disciplinary measures linked to student unrest.
Experts have warned that without addressing accountability gaps at both learner and management levels, schools may remain vulnerable to repeated incidents of unrest.