Schools Closed Across Kenya as Saba Saba Protests Disrupt Academic Calendars and Public Services.
Major urban centres in Kenya have seen widespread closures of learning institutions as the planned nationwide Saba Saba demonstrations kicked off on Monday, 7 July 2025. The move is attributed to persistent security concerns following recent protests that turned violent and disrupted learning.
School heads in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru have sent out official notifications to parents since Friday advising them to keep their children at home. One of the notices read: “Due to safety concerns, learners should not come to school. This decision has been made with the safety and well-being of our students and staff as our top priority.”
A principal of a day school in Nairobi who requested anonymity confirmed that classes for Monday had been cancelled, citing the need to protect pupils and staff. “Considering the recent aftermath of protests, the school decided to allow learners to stay at home. We operate in a sensitive environment and value the lives of our teachers and learners,” the principal said.
The protests are to commemorate the historic Saba Saba movement of 7 July 1990 which was a defining moment in Kenya’s pro-democracy struggle. However, recent demonstrations have been characterised by confrontations between protesters and law enforcement agencies, deployment of tear gas, transport paralysis and fatalities.
Official records show that last month, learners in schools near demonstration hotspots were exposed to tear gas and administrators had to delay dismissal for safety reasons. Many children also experienced delays getting home due to public transport disruptions. The National Police Service confirmed one fatality of a youth protester in Nairobi during clashes with police.
On Saturday, Education Stakeholders Association of Kenya (ESAK) National Secretary Ndung’u Wangenye expressed concern about the impact of recurring unrest on education. Wangenye said: “Parents started receiving messages on Friday that children should not report on Monday, July 7, because of demonstrations.
This is becoming too common and is seriously interfering with the already compressed academic calendar.” He warned that frequent interruptions will compromise the implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) which is currently in use in junior and senior secondary schools.National Parents Association Chair Silas Obuhatsa wants the government to guarantee safety for learners and parents.
Obuhatsa said: “The government should ensure learners and parents are safe so that they can release children to school.” He added: “No one should assume parents want to defy work schedules. What they want is assurance their children will be safe and they themselves can move freely without fear.”
MAK has called on authorities to allow peaceful assembly not to curtail constitutional rights. The association said, “It is the duty of the government through the National Police Service to facilitate constitutional rights not to criminalise them.” MAK also warned security agencies against using excessive force, “Police should not use tear gas, live bullets or excessive force on unarmed protesters.”
The Ministry of Education and festival organisers have confirmed changes to the national events calendar. The Kenya Music Festival 2025 regional competitions in Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley regions which were scheduled for 7th July have been either postponed or condensed. In Rift Valley a festival official said, “Since students will be traveling long distances we moved the dates to start on 8th July to avoid risking the lives of our learners and teachers.”
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Despite the growing anxiety the government has said Monday will be a normal working day. On Sunday Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku issued a directive to all civil servants to report to work as per government regulations. Ruku said, “Monday is not a public holiday. Public officers are expected to report to their stations from 8am to 5pm as per HR policies and procedures.”
The directive has been criticized by education stakeholders. Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KSSHA) Chair Willie Kuria said while educators are committed to their duties prevailing conditions make it impossible to deliver learning effectively.
Schools Closed Across Kenya as Saba Saba Protests Disrupt Academic Calendars and Public Services.