The Ministry of Education has moved to reassure parents and teachers that Kenya’s schools will stay open and operate on schedule, even as a string of dormitory fires and student unrest incidents continue to rattle institutions across the country.
Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok delivered that message on Thursday, June 4, during The Kenya High School’s Prize Giving Day, telling the gathering that the vast majority of schools are running without disruption and that the government has no plans to alter the academic calendar.
“As we honour these accomplishments, I remain keenly aware of the challenges that have recently disrupted learning in some parts of the country,” Bitok said at the event.
He stressed that the ministry is not standing still in the face of those challenges.
“The Ministry is actively undertaking targeted interventions in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy, safeguard learning, and ensure that our learners remain in school,” he added.
A Nationwide Safety Audit Now Underway
Beyond keeping schools open, Bitok announced that the government has launched a nationwide audit of safety standards across schools. The review will look at dormitory conditions, emergency preparedness, physical infrastructure, and compliance with existing safety regulations, with the goal of identifying and addressing risks before they escalate into tragedies.
The announcement comes weeks after one of the most devastating school disasters in recent memory. A dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, on May 28, 2026, killed 16 students and left 74 others hospitalized, triggering a national conversation about whether Kenyan schools are doing enough to keep students safe.
Since then, a number of schools have closed their doors, either temporarily or indefinitely. Some shut down after students threatened to protest, while others suffered serious dormitory damage in fires that forced administrations to send learners home. Alliance High School, Lenana School, Nakuru Girls High School, Njoro Girls High School, and Moi Forces Academy Lanet are among the institutions that have taken precautionary action in the past week.
Ministry Holds Firm on the School Calendar
Despite the mounting pressure, the ministry is holding firm on its position that the incidents remain isolated and do not warrant any changes to the national school calendar.
To prevent the situation from spreading further, the ministry has called on school heads, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders to open up lines of communication with students and deal with grievances early, before they develop into larger flashpoints.
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