A growing crisis in Kenya’s secondary school system is fueling widespread student unrest, with overcrowding, food shortages, and safety concerns emerging as the main drivers of tension across several elite and national institutions.
The rapid rollout of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system has significantly increased enrolment pressure, pushing many parents to compete for limited places in top-tier “Cluster One” and national schools. As a result, institutions originally designed for much smaller student populations are now struggling to cope with extreme overcrowding in dormitories, classrooms, and dining halls.
Students in several schools have reported worsening living conditions, citing insufficient and poor-quality meals that leave many learners hungry. The strain on infrastructure has also become increasingly visible, with long queues forming at dining halls, water points, and sanitation facilities. Chronic water shortages and inadequate bathroom access have further intensified frustration among learners.
Education stakeholders, including the National Parents Association (NPA), have raised concerns over what they describe as a communication breakdown between school administrations and students. According to the association, grievances raised by learners are often ignored, leaving many feeling voiceless and contributing to escalating tensions within schools.
Safety concerns have also become central to the crisis. Overcrowded dormitories have heightened the risk of airborne disease transmission, while structural congestion and limited emergency exits have raised fears over student safety during emergencies. Recent tragic incidents, including the death of students in a school fire in Gilgil, have further intensified scrutiny of safety standards in boarding institutions.
In response to the unrest, authorities have ordered the closure of several major schools, including Alliance Boys High School, State House Girls, Moi Girls Nairobi, and Lenana School, either indefinitely or temporarily, as part of efforts to restore order and reduce pressure on overstretched facilities.
The Ministry of Education has also directed nationwide quality assurance inspections to enforce safety and operational standards across schools. However, despite growing calls from stakeholders for an emergency midterm break to calm tensions, the government has maintained that no early recess will be granted.