Nakuru Girls High School Closed Indefinitely Following Student Unrest
Nakuru Girls High School has been closed indefinitely following a night of unrest triggered by students protesting against the administration’s decision to proceed with end-of-term examinations. The incident occurred on the night of Tuesday, July 23, 2025, and involved the destruction of school property, forcing the administration to send all students home the following morning.
According to Principal Rose Menjo, the chaos erupted around 9:30 p.m. after evening prep when a group of students began expressing their frustrations and fears over the scheduled exams. Attempts to engage with the school leadership reportedly failed, prompting a section of learners to damage property as a form of protest. Menjo stated that despite earlier appeals from students to reschedule the examinations, the administration maintained that the school calendar would be followed strictly, a decision that may have fueled the night’s turmoil.
The school’s management, in consultation with the Board of Management and education officials, made the decision to suspend learning activities indefinitely for the safety of students and staff. As of Wednesday morning, students had vacated the school premises, and assessments were underway to determine the extent of damage and chart a way forward.
This is not an isolated case. In recent weeks, similar protests have been reported across the country. Kaplong Girls High School in Bomet County was also closed after students protested over alleged sexual harassment by a staff member. Lari Boys High School in Kiambu County was shut down after students set fire to school property, allegedly over restrictions on musical instruments.
Nakuru Girls High School, one of the oldest national girls’ schools in the country, was established in 1927 and has a reputation for academic excellence. It posted a mean grade of 8.22 in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), although this was slightly lower than previous years. The school is known for its disciplined environment and has historically maintained high standards both academically and in co-curricular activities.
The Ministry of Education is expected to launch a formal investigation into the incident. Education stakeholders have urged school administrators across the country to be more responsive to student concerns and to consider implementing stronger guidance and counseling programs to help learners manage academic pressure.
The indefinite closure leaves uncertainty about when learning will resume at Nakuru Girls, but education officials have assured parents that measures will be taken to restore order and ensure the students’ academic progression is not significantly disrupted.
