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Principals Ignore PS Bitok: Ten Schools Shut Doors Amid Unrest Escalation

Teachers Arena

Schools Defy Ministry Directive as Unrest Triggers Wave of Premature Closures

NAIROBI, Kenya — June 5, 2026 — A significant rift has emerged between the Ministry of Education and school administrators across the country as a growing number of secondary schools continue to shut their doors, opting to send learners home despite explicit government warnings against early mid-term closures.

The Standoff: Ministry vs. Principals

The tension escalated on Thursday, June 4, when Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok addressed a prize-giving ceremony at The Kenya High School.

During the event, the PS firmly ruled out any possibility of a nationwide early mid-term break, insisting that the official calendar—scheduled for June 24 to June 28, 2026—remains unchanged.

Bitok maintained that learning is proceeding normally in over 99 percent of the country’s 9,500 schools and warned principals against closing institutions without prior approval from relevant authorities.

He emphasized that the Ministry is conducting nationwide safety audits and increasing the number of Quality Assurance Officers to help restore stability.

However, in a move that signals a deepening crisis of confidence, at least ten secondary schools have defied the government’s directive, choosing to prioritize the safety of students and institutional property over the official academic schedule. Among the institutions that have reportedly sent learners home are:

(Additional institutions are reported to be considering similar measures as security concerns mount.)

A Shift in Priorities: Safety vs. Compliance

For many principals, the decision to close early is a desperate response to the “rampant” nature of the current unrest.

The triggers for these closures vary, ranging from actual fire incidents and property destruction to preemptive actions following discovery of arson plots or intelligence of impending riots.

While the Ministry of Education advocates for dialogue and the implementation of stronger guidance and counseling departments, administrators on the front lines argue that the environment has become too volatile to manage.

Many schools had originally planned to break on June 19, but the recent wave of student disturbances has forced their hand, leading to abrupt closures that have caught parents and the Ministry off guard.

Bitok’s Guidance on Examination Pressure

Amid the ongoing tension, PS Bitok acknowledged that school environments are currently highly sensitive, particularly regarding examination schedules.

In a notable admission of the pressure students are under, he urged school heads to exercise extreme caution regarding assessments.

“We are not saying students should not do exams, especially the county-based mocks,” Bitok stated.

“What we are saying is that if students express anxiety or indicate they are not ready, there is no point in forcing them. It is better to postpone the examination than end up with a school that has been burnt.”

This directive highlights the government’s attempt to de-escalate tensions by addressing one of the primary drivers of student grievances: academic pressure.

However, whether this shift in rhetoric is enough to stop the wave of closures remains to be seen.

Growing Anxiety in the Education Sector

The current situation has reignited the national conversation on student welfare, mental health, and the adequacy of safety standards in boarding schools.

The tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy on May 28—which left 16 students dead—continues to loom large over every decision made by school management.

As the Ministry of Education prepares to review the findings of its 10-day nationwide safety inspection, the standoff between the government’s “business as usual” stance and the principals’ instinct for emergency preservation continues to test the stability of the school calendar.

For now, parents across the country remain in a state of uncertainty, awaiting further word on whether their children’s schools will remain open in the coming weeks.

As the debate over school closures intensifies, do you think the Ministry should grant regional directors more autonomy to authorize early mid-term breaks, or would that signal a surrender to student indiscipline?

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