PHOTOS: Night of terror that left Litein boys under massive destruction

Litein Boys High School in Bureti Constituency has been closed indefinitely after students went on a rampage on Sunday night, leaving behind massive destruction worth millions of shillings.

The students overpowered school security and destroyed classrooms, property vandalised, and one of the school’s buildings set ablaze.

Confirming the incident, Litein OCPD Benedict Chirchir said the matter is now under investigation.

According to sources, the chaos reportedly began around 9:00 p.m. when students complained about poorly cooked rice served during dinner.

What started as murmurs of discontent quickly escalated into destruction, with students pelting stones, breaking windows, damaging classroom furniture, and vandalising the main gate. 

As the situation worsened, police officers from Litein Police Station and Bureti Sub-County were called in.

Tear gas was used to disperse the students, some of whom  attempted to storm out of the compound, while others tried to bring down the school’s fence.

By the time calm was restored, four classrooms had been badly damaged, several window panes shattered, and the library and computer labs partially destroyed by fire. 

Among the destroyed facilities are an administration block valued at Sh18 million, a fully equipped science laboratory, a computer lab with several computers, CCTV systems, television sets, and other vital learning materials.

 The Standard team visiting the school found destruction beginning right from the gate, which had been yanked off its hinges.

Torn books and academic materials were scattered across the compound, while walls were defaced with graffiti carrying chilling messages against the Principal, Mr Richard Sang, and his deputy, Mr Mutai.

The school management and security agencies convened a crisis meeting on Monday to assess the situation and agreed to close the school indefinitely as investigations continue.

Kennedy Cheruiyot, a parent at the institution, expressed concern over the recurrent unrest at the school, noting that parents have been forced to contribute at least Sh2,500 after every incident to cover damages.

“For the last three years, Litein Boys has witnessed repeated strikes, but this latest incident is the most destructive. Parents are now worried we may again be asked to foot the repair costs, yet this burden is becoming unbearable,” he said.

He further urged the government to step in and use emergency funds to aid in reconstructing the school.

Kericho KUPPET Executive Secretary Mary Rotich condemned the incident, describing it as a serious case of indiscipline. She urged parents to take greater responsibility in guiding their children.

“Discipline begins from home. This is a wake-up call for all of us to instill responsibility in our children. Parents must not abdicate their duty of upbringing to schools,” she said.

Former Bureti MP and Roads Minister Franklin Bett, who in the 1990s facilitated the construction of the destroyed administration block, said he was deeply saddened by the incident.

He hinted at the possibility of a “third force” being involved and called for independent investigations by the Ministries of Education and Interior to establish whether the destruction was a premeditated act of arson.

“The school leadership must declare whether they had prior knowledge of the attack. This incident demands a thorough and independent probe,” he stated.

John Rop, a former Principal of Litein Boys High School, described the incident as a major setback, particularly for candidates preparing for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

“It will be a disaster if candidates are unable to sit their examinations due to this destruction. The Ministry of Education, parents, and the Board of Management must urgently meet to ensure continuity of learning and safeguard the future of the candidates,” he said.

This is not the first time Litein Boys, once regarded as an academic powerhouse in Kericho County, has made headlines for the wrong reasons. 

It is the second major strike at the institution this year, following earlier unrest in 2023 that also left property vandalised, including biometric systems and laboratory blocks.

The repeated cases have left education stakeholders worried about discipline and management  at the school. 

“Litein High School boys have decided to water down the good legacy left by their predecessors. Very unfortunate,” lamented one alumnus.

National Parents Association Silas Obuhatsa expressed concern over what they described as a worrying trend. 

“Our children’s education keeps being disrupted. Every time there’s a strike, we are sent home to deal with the consequences, yet the root causes are never addressed,” Obuhatsa said.

Police say investigations are underway to establish whether the chaos was spontaneous or incited.

Photos by Nikko Tanui.