Wamuzi News Ke
In a dramatic escalation just days before the scheduled reopening of schools, teachers at Litein Boys High School have threatened not to return to duty unless they are transferred immediately. The demand follows violent student unrest that erupted last month, forcing the closure of the institution and sparking widespread tension between faculty, administration, and parents.
The teachers, represented by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), say they no longer feel safe and believe the school environment has become hostile. “We felt targeted and disrespected. Returning under current conditions would put us at risk,” said KUPPET Kericho Executive Secretary Mary Rotich at a press briefing Thursday.
Unrest That Sparked the Crisis
The dispute traces its origins to last month’s havoc at the school, where students laid siege to administrative buildings, destroyed property, and allegedly bartered intimidation against staff. The school was swiftly shut down as authorities attempted to restore order.
When the government ordered a resumption of classes this coming Tuesday, teachers balked, citing insufficient remediation of security lapses and unresolved accountability for property damage, which they claim left many of them personally affected.
Union Demands, School Board Moves, and Political Pressure
Rotich called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to withdraw all teachers from Litein and begin consultations before reopening. She accused the school board of unfairly levying heavy fines on parents for damages, implying that teachers were being scapegoated.
Notably, KUPPET also revealed that many teachers lost personal property worth millions during the unrest—losses which some parents and the school board reportedly deny or downplay.
The situation has already prompted legal action: parents have moved the courts to challenge massive damage levies imposed per learner, alleging lack of transparency and possible exploitation.
