KAKAMEGA, KENYA – Simon Isiaho Shange, the principal of Munyuki Secondary School, was laid to rest on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at his home in Ludodo Village, Likuyani Sub-County, amid profound grief and pressing questions over his brutal murder. His death has ignited a fierce national debate on the safety of educators and the security protocols surrounding the administration of national examinations.

Mr. Shange disappeared in the early hours of Monday, November 3, 2025. He was en route to collect the day's Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers from the Lugari Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner's office when his vehicle was reportedly involved in a road accident at the Muge blackspot along the Eldoret–Malaba Highway. While witnesses reported seeing him alive after the crash, he vanished from the scene under mysterious circumstances.

A five-day search ended in tragedy on Saturday, November 8, when his body was discovered floating in the Kipkaren River. Authorities reported that the body showed signs of torture, leading the Lugari Sub-county Police Commander, Robert Kurgat, to confirm that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was treating the case as a suspected murder.

A Contentious Investigation and Calls for Accountability

The discovery of Mr. Shange’s body sparked immediate outrage, culminating in protests where angry residents and students reportedly attacked the Lumakanda Police Station, demanding swift action. In the weeks following, the investigation has been characterized by a perceived lack of progress, fueling frustration among community leaders and teachers' unions.

During a fundraiser held for the family, Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula raised serious allegations, claiming that crucial CCTV footage from the principal's home, which could have captured his final movements, was deliberately deleted. “This is not adding up. The family and community deserve the truth, not guesswork,” Mr. Savula stated, highlighting the unexplained time gap between the car crash and the discovery of the body. Echoing these concerns, Isaack Andabwa, the Secretary-General of the Kenya National Security Workers Union, publicly questioned the pace and transparency of the DCI's probe, urging investigators to address inconsistencies in the case.

The case has also taken on a political dimension, with Lugari Member of Parliament Nabii Nabwera, through his lawyer Danstan Omari, formally requesting the DCI to investigate several bloggers for allegedly spreading malicious information linking him to the principal’s death.

National Spotlight on Teacher Security and KCSE Protocols

Mr. Shange's murder has cast a harsh light on the vulnerability of educators, particularly during the high-stakes national examination period. His death is not an isolated incident; Deputy Governor Savula noted a separate recent attack on another headteacher in the same area, pointing to a worrying trend of violence. The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) responded forcefully, threatening to withdraw its members from supervising the KCSE examinations unless their safety was guaranteed and concrete progress was made in the investigation. “We cannot stand by while one of our own is brutally murdered, and the authorities drag their feet,” a union representative stated during a press briefing on November 10.

The incident directly challenges the security measures implemented by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) for the 2025 exams. Protocols require centre managers like Mr. Shange to collect examination materials from secure storage containers, often in the early morning, and transport them under armed escort. However, his murder underscores the persistent risks involved in this critical logistical exercise, prompting calls for a comprehensive review of the security arrangements provided to the thousands of personnel who administer the exams nationwide.

A Community in Mourning

At the funeral on Tuesday, colleagues, students, and family remembered Mr. Shange as a dedicated and transformative educator. His wife, Salome Mukuna, has called for justice and expressed fear for her family's safety following her husband's murder. The sentiment was shared by Michael Amukowa, the chairman of the Kakamega County Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association, who described the slain principal as a harmless and dedicated mentor.

As the family and community grieve, the unresolved questions surrounding Simon Isiaho Shange's death continue to loom large. His case has become a critical test for Kenya's justice system and the Ministry of Education's commitment to protecting its frontline educators. The DCI has stated that investigations are ongoing, but the pressure for answers and accountability from a concerned nation is mounting. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.