Inside Litein Boys Crisis: Teachers Boycott Litein Boys, Cite Threats and Intimidation After Student Riot

A month after a violent student riot rocked Litein Boys High School in Kericho County, the institution remains engulfed in tension, fear, and finger-pointing — with teachers vowing never to return until their safety is guaranteed.

The once-prestigious school now stands deserted, its classrooms locked and staff houses deserted, as members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) accuse the administration of intimidation and scapegoating.

“Teachers are being labelled as if they benefited from the chaos. Their dignity must be respected,”

declared Mary Rotich, the KUPPET Executive Secretary for Kericho, in a strongly worded statement this week.

“We are asking the Teachers Service Commission to recall all teachers from Litein Boys before any talks on reopening can take place.”

Rotich said several teachers had received threats after the school’s Board of Management imposed a Ksh49,000 fine per parent to repair dormitories and offices destroyed during the September 21 riot. The educators insist the administration has been unfairly targeting them instead of addressing deeper issues behind the unrest.

According to the teachers, property worth millions of shillings — including household goods, furniture, and personal effects — was vandalized as students went on a rampage after being denied permission to watch a Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City.

“We were attacked by the very students we teach. It’s traumatic — no one can work in that kind of environment,”

said one teacher who requested anonymity for fear of victimization.

The institution remains closed indefinitely, with parents now suing the school over what they term “unexplained levies” and a lack of accountability on the fine imposed. Attempts to reopen have been thwarted amid reports that students are mobilizing for fresh protests should the current principal be retained.

Education stakeholders warn that the Litein Boys saga is a symptom of a wider crisis — growing indiscipline, poor communication, and mistrust between teachers, administrators, and students in Kenyan schools.

“This case shows just how fragile the relationship between teachers and learners has become. Without trust and respect, no amount of reforms will save our institutions,”

said an education expert based in Kericho.

As the standoff drags on, Litein Boys stands as a stark reminder of how quickly schools can spiral into chaos — and how long it takes to rebuild confidence once fear and blame take root.