Litein Boys School Closed After Students Riot Over Arsenal vs Man City Match
Reports indicate that the chaos left key facilities vandalised, including the principal’s office, laboratory equipment, and windows of the administration block.
Marvin Chege 
Litein Boys High School in Kericho County was closed indefinitely after a Sunday night strike in which students went on a rampage, destroying property of unknown value.
Reports indicate that the chaos left key facilities vandalised, including the principal’s office, laboratory equipment, and windows of the administration block.
The scale of the damage was revealed on Monday morning, September 22, when education officials and the school’s Board of Management held an emergency meeting at the bus park to review the situation and decide on the way forward.
The aftermath, after-school students went on a rampage at Litein High School over a football match. /X
Sources claim the unrest was sparked when students were denied permission to watch the highly anticipated English Premier League (EPL) clash between Arsenal and Manchester City, triggering outrage among football fans within the school and fueling widespread disorder.
The students had asked to watch the 90-minute match as part of their regular weekend entertainment routine, a norm in many boys’ schools. However, the administration rejected the request, sparking unrest among the learners.
The protest quickly spiralled into a violent strike, with students lashing out at the school administration. Dormitories and classrooms were soon engulfed in smoke, and property worth millions of shillings was destroyed.
Videos and photos shared online show several school buildings set ablaze, leaving behind scorched walls and rubble.
It is reported that the students overpowered both security personnel and police officers after cutting off electricity in the compound, enabling them to carry out the destruction under the cover of darkness.
By the time of publishing, Ministry of Education officials and the Board of Management had continued deliberations.
Litein Boys’ High School has a record of repeated unrest, sparking concerns about student discipline, mental health, and the institution’s leadership.
In July this year, the school descended into chaos after students allegedly rioted over undercooked rice served at dinner. A police report indicated that the situation escalated after the evening meal, forcing law enforcement to intervene as property destruction began.
That incident marked the second instance of unrest at the school within two years. In May 2023, the institution was closed indefinitely after students staged a riot, the reasons for which were never clearly established.
During the 2023 chaos, learners vandalised school property, including biometric systems, window panes, and vehicles within the compound.
Investigations into the latest strike are ongoing, led by the school administration in collaboration with education officials and security agencies.
