afrol News, 22 July - At least 70 Kenyan students face arson charges and fueling unrest at boarding schools across the country, following riots over the weekend which led to a death of a student after setting a dormitory ablaze.

Although it is not clear as to what caused students to riot over the weekend, it is alleged that students were retaliating against schools’ incompetent administration, misuse of funds and resources and poor supervision.

Reports indicate that over 200 students have been arrested following the unrest, which forced the country's education minister to set up a committee to probe causes of the strikes which destroyed property worth millions.

Kenya has seen a number of riots over the past month which affected over 300 schools, and the latest was on Sunday, with students from Mbuguti Secondary School in Thika burning nine buildings in their school while others in Kilifi torched a dormitory.

Education Minister Mr Sam Ongeri has warned that full force of the law will be used against students who incite their colleagues to rebel against schools administration.

Mr Ongeri is to issue a statement in parliament on the crisis that has forced about 200 schools to be closed within the last three months.

Internal Security minister Mr George Saitoti attributed strikes to drug abuse among students, urging authorities to help check the trend as police investigate the matter further.

Kenyan authorities have prepared reports with recommendations which are to date not implemented to curb riots in schools, with Minister Saitoti saying though reports are not in public domain, it would be wrong to accuse the government of laxity in implementing the recommendations.

Although Kenyan government banned corporal punishment in all learning institutions seven years ago, parents, teachers and other politicians are calling for its reinstatement to enforce law and order in schools.

"With school property being destroyed and even lives being lost government must now act tough on discipline in schools," Tourism Minister Mr Najib Balala said in reaction to the strikes.

Some teachers blamed ongoing unrest on tensions among students who were preparing to start mock examinations this week.

Meanwhile Minister Ongeri constituted a committee comprising provincial and district Education officials to unravel the recent unrest in schools.

Kenya introduced a free secondary schooling education programme with a target of raising student enrolment to 1.4 million by end of the year after having been alarmed by high number of primary leaving students following introduction of universal free primary education in 2002.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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