MERU, Kenya — Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced the formation of a multi-stakeholder team to address the growing wave of student unrest and dormitory fires that have disrupted learning in secondary schools across the country.
Speaking in Meru County on Sunday, Ogamba said the team will bring together parents, teachers, religious leaders, school sponsors, and government officials to examine the root causes of the unrest and recommend long-term solutions.
The initiative comes as Kenya grapples with an increase in cases of student strikes, arson, and violence in schools, prompting renewed concerns over learner welfare, school safety, and discipline.
“We’ve agreed that we are going to form a multi-stakeholder team to discuss the issues that are affecting our students in all our schools,” Ogamba said.
“We want all of us as stakeholders in the education sector, from parents, from the government, from teachers, from the people in the religious sector, and sponsors, to come together so that we can ensure that we get a solution to this perennial problem that is affecting our children,” he added.
The Cabinet Secretary said the government had concluded that reversing the trend requires a coordinated national response rather than isolated interventions by schools or education officials.
The planned team is expected to investigate the underlying factors driving student unrest and propose practical measures to restore discipline while creating a safer and more supportive learning environment.
The announcement follows a series of destructive incidents reported in schools across the country, including dormitory fires that have destroyed property worth millions of shillings and disrupted academic programmes.
Among the most devastating incidents was the fire at Utumishi Girls’ Academy in Gilgil, where 16 students lost their lives, renewing calls for stronger safety standards and improved student support systems.
Education officials have also expressed concern over reports that more than 200 schools have experienced unrest in recent months, with some institutions forced to suspend learning after students torched dormitories or staged protests over various grievances.
The latest announcement reinforces measures already introduced by the Ministry of Education to curb the crisis.
Earlier, the ministry directed all schools to convene Parents Association meetings to assess learners’ welfare and review emerging challenges within institutions.
School administrators were also instructed to strengthen guidance and counselling programmes, improve channels through which students can raise complaints, and ensure grievances are addressed before escalating into unrest.
The ministry further directed school managements to enhance safety measures and work closely with parents and teachers to create a conducive learning environment.
The task force is expected to consult widely before presenting recommendations aimed at reducing recurring school unrest and protecting learning institutions from further disruptions.