Nakuru, Kenya – One of Nakuru County’s top schools has been shut down indefinitely following a night of student unrest linked to upcoming exams. Nakuru Girls’ High School was closed on the morning of July 23 after students went on a rampage late the night before, destroying school property in protest over the timing of end-of-term examinations. According to school administrators, the students demanded that the exams – which they felt were scheduled too soon – be pushed to a later date, and erupted when their pleas were rebuffed.

Principal Rose Menjo acknowledged the girls were anxious about exams but asserted that “exam fever” rather than any legitimate grievance sparked the violent outburst. Desks, windows and other facilities were vandalized during the turmoil, though the value of the damage is still being assessed. With police called in to contain the situation, the school’s administration and the Ministry of Education decided to send all students home until further notice as a safety precaution and to allow tensions to cool.

This incident is the latest in a wave of student unrest sweeping Kenyan secondary schools this month. Officials noted that just days earlier, a similar riot over exam stress led to the closure of Kaplong Girls High School in Bomet County. Cases have ranged from protests over tough exam schedules to grievances about school conditions, with at least 10 schools experiencing strikes or walkouts since early July. Education authorities have urged parents and teachers to counsel students on constructive ways to voice concerns, while also investigating deeper causes – such as possible mismanagement or disciplinary issues – that may underlie the surge in school riots.