Kenyan Police Arrest More Than 200 Students Over “Copycat” Strikes

Text of report by Cyrus Ombati, Peter Mutai, Wairimu Kamande, Antony Gitonga and Maseme Machuka entitled “Students in city schools destroy property as unrest rages on” published by Kenyan privately- owned daily newspaper The Standard website on 22 July;

More strikes rocked top schools in Nairobi and elsewhere as a committee set up by the government to deal with the chaos worked throughout the day. The committee, formed by Education Minister Sam Ongeri on Sunday [20 July], was to report back to him last evening.

But as the committee met, students from Pumwani, Aquinas, Lenana, Jamhuri and Uhuru secondary schools [Nairobi] went on the rampage in copycat strikes that have hit schools countrywide.

Aquinas and Uhuru High were closed after students destroyed property. More than 200 students were locked up at various police stations in the city.

Local OCPD [Officer Commanding Police Division] Kipkemoi Rop told school administrators to alert police of any signs of unrest. Police thwarted a strike by Lenana School students over claims that the management was “too strict”. Pumwani Secondary went on the rampage on Sunday night and destroyed property. Police were called in and stopped the chaos.

In Thika [central Kenya], 69 students of Mbugiti Secondary School were charged with destruction of property. Elsewhere, Narumoru Boys in Nyeri, Kiamutugu Secondary in Kirinyaga and Inooro and Thingithu secondary schools in Nanyuki [central Kenya] also went on strike, leading to closure of the institutions.

At Karega Secondary School in Murang’a [central Kenya], police stopped form four students from torching a dormitory. And 12 students of Mununga Secondary School, also in Murang’a [central Kenya], were arraigned in court over criminal charges. In Naivasha [north west of Nairobi], Hope-Well Secondary School was closed after students attempted to torch the buildings.

Police in Kericho [southwestern Kenya] are holding seven form four students of Kericho Tea Secondary School over their role in an aborted strike last Sunday.

The principal, Mr Wilson Koros, said the students were arrested in the school compound after their counterparts gave their names to the administration.

In the past three months alone, more than 200 schools have been hit by the wave of unrest.

Originally published by The Standard website, Nairobi, in English 22 Jul 08.

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