Litein Boys High School in Bureti constituency descended into chaos on Sunday night as students staged a rampage that shocked the nation and left the once-prized institution counting millions in losses.
What began as a protest allegedly triggered by denial to watch a soccer match spiraled into a bizarre night of lawlessness. Students ran amok, torching buildings, vandalizing laboratories, and destroying equipment worth millions.
In one of the night’s most outrageous spectacles, a group of students paraded the school’s prized cow, reportedly riding it around the compound like cowboys in a rodeo. The images quickly spread, sparking disbelief countrywide.
By morning, the damage was staggering.Millions administration block lay in ruins, the main gate ripped off, laboratories vandalized, CCTV cameras destroyed, and books torn and scattered across the compound.
Graffiti scrawled on walls carried chilling threats targeting Principal Richard Sang and Deputy Principal Mutai. Parents, called to the school in the aftermath, were left in shock and despair over the destruction.
“For the last three years, Litein Boys has witnessed repeated strikes, but this incident is the most destructive,” said Kennedy Cheruiyot, a worried parent. “We fear parents will again be burdened to repair damages.”
Kericho Governor Dr Erick Mutai, an alumnus, condemned the incident, terming it criminal. “What is the relationship between being denied to watch soccer and razing down property, even riding a cow like a horse?” he posed.
KUPPET Kericho Executive Secretary Mary Rotich insisted that discipline must begin at home, urging parents to instill values before schools shoulder the blame.
Former Roads Minister Franklin Bett, who oversaw the building of the destroyed block, called for an independent probe, hinting that external forces could be fueling the chaos.
With national examinations looming, education stakeholders fear disruption. Former principal John Rop warned the destruction could derail KCSE preparations, jeopardizing the candidates’ future.
By Nairobinews