Chesamisi High School Closed Indefinitely After Violent Student Unrest Over Football Defeat
A secondary school in Bungoma County has been closed indefinitely after chaos erupted following a controversial football defeat during zonal school games, with reports of vandalism, destruction of crops, and night-time attacks triggering alarm among education officials
Chesamisi High School, located in Kimilili Sub-County, was shut down after students allegedly went on the rampage following their team’s loss to St. Peters Nakalira Boys High School during the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) zonal semifinals held on May 24.
The dramatic match, staged at Kamusinde Boys High School grounds, reportedly descended into confusion after Chesamisi students boycotted the fixture while trailing 2-1 against Nakalira in the decisive semifinal clash.
Witnesses claimed tensions flared moments later when supporters from the host school joined Nakalira fans in celebrating the victory — a move said to have angered Chesamisi students and sparked unrest at the venue.
Officials were forced to intervene as the situation spiralled out of control, prompting KSSSA organisers to suspend all remaining matches scheduled at the grounds over security fears.
Later that evening, the unrest reportedly escalated beyond the sports field, with students allegedly vandalising property at Kamusinde Boys High School.
In a now widely circulated Facebook post shared shortly before midnight, Kamusinde Boys High School claimed the institution was under attack.
“Chesamisi Boys have decided to launch an attack on us this night. We are under attack,” the school posted.
The disturbance is also said to have spread into neighbouring farmland, where students allegedly invaded a sugarcane plantation and destroyed crops belonging to a local farmer.
The affected farmer has since demanded compensation and called for investigations into the destruction, urging the Ministry of Education and relevant authorities to take action against those responsible.
The incident has renewed concerns over rising cases of student unrest in schools across Kenya, with education authorities increasingly under pressure to contain the growing wave of strikes, walkouts, and violent disturbances disrupting learning in several counties.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Education convened an emergency virtual meeting involving public secondary school principals and field officers following a surge in cases of school unrest nationwide.
During the meeting held on May 14, school heads were directed to strengthen communication channels, improve student counselling programmes, and enhance preventive measures aimed at curbing student strikes, arson attacks, vandalism, and unauthorised exits from schools.
Education officials fear the latest violence could signal a worrying return of widespread unrest in schools if urgent intervention measures are not implemented.
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