BOMET, Kenya (BN24) — Kenyan authorities have indefinitely shut down Kaplong Girls High School in Bomet County following a violent student protest over allegations of sexual harassment by a male member of the teaching staff. The closure, announced Sunday, came after a weekend of mounting unrest at the institution, which saw school property vandalized and students injured in a stampede.
School Principal Claire Mitei confirmed the indefinite closure, stating the decision was necessary to restore order and create space for a full investigation into the serious allegations. “We had no choice but to suspend learning activities and send the girls home for their safety and well-being,” Mitei said.
The unrest erupted on Saturday night, when students began protesting what they described as repeated instances of sexual misconduct by a teacher. According to police and local reports, students accused the teacher of making sexually inappropriate comments, sending explicit messages, and luring students to his office under false pretenses. Though the allegations remain unverified, they have ignited outrage within the school community and beyond.
During the rampage, students damaged multiple facilities, including classroom windows and dormitories. The school bus was pelted with stones, and several installations within the school compound were vandalized. A police report noted that some students sustained minor injuries during a stampede as panic spread across the campus. The injured were treated at St. Claire Kaplong Mission Hospital.
Officers from Sotik Police Station responded to the scene to quell the chaos and reestablish order. Once calm was restored, students were released to return to their homes Sunday morning.
The incident has sparked national concern, with parents, alumni, and education stakeholders calling for swift and transparent investigations into the allegations. “There must be accountability,” said a parent who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We need assurances that our girls are learning in a safe environment.”
The Ministry of Education has dispatched officials to the school, while local security teams continue to assess the damage and monitor the situation. Meanwhile, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is facing renewed scrutiny over how it handles cases of sexual misconduct in schools.
Just days before the Kaplong unrest, the TSC placed a male teacher from Alliance Girls High School on a 30-day compulsory leave pending an investigation into similar allegations of professional misconduct. Acting TSC CEO Evaleen Mitei confirmed the disciplinary action on July 25, citing violations of the Teachers Service Commission Act and the Code of Regulations for Teachers.
The suspension came on the heels of an exposé by investigative outlet Africa Uncensored, titled The Teacher and the System, which uncovered a disturbing two-decade pattern of abuse involving the teacher in question. Former students accused the man—who served as a Christian Union patron and mentor—of using his influence to manipulate and exploit vulnerable girls.
The developments at Kaplong Girls have intensified calls for institutional reforms and greater accountability within Kenya’s education system, particularly regarding teacher conduct and the protection of female students.
As of Monday, investigations into the Kaplong incident are ongoing, and authorities have not yet confirmed whether the accused teacher has been formally suspended or arrested.
