St. Monica Girls High School Closed Indefinitely After Student Protests Against Principal

St. Monica Girls High School in Kitale, Trans-Nzoia County, has been closed indefinitely following a violent protest by students. The incident occurred on Sunday, September 22, 2024, when students expressed their dissatisfaction with the school principal, Grace Onyango Ataro, accusing her of mismanagement.

Students at St. Monica Girls High School staged a rampage, demanding the removal of the principal. Reports indicate that tensions had been building for some time, with students increasingly frustrated over the leadership of the school. The unrest escalated on Sunday, leading to property damage, including the destruction of the school gate.

Images and videos circulating online showed students hurriedly exiting the school, leaving behind messages on whiteboards that conveyed their grievances against the principal. These protests reflect a growing wave of unrest in educational institutions across Kenya.

St. Monica Girls High School is not the only institution facing turmoil. Recently, Dagoretti High School in Nairobi also experienced unrest, leading to its closure on September 16, 2024. In that instance, chaos erupted following a basketball match, resulting in injuries to 11 students. The conflict reportedly arose between two rival factions of students.

In addition, higher learning institutions have been affected by student protests. On September 17, Kabete Polytechnic experienced a major disruption after students protested the introduction of exam fees. The school’s Chief Principal, Patrick Muchemi, ordered the students to vacate the premises as tensions escalated.

Following the protests at St. Monica, school administrators and local authorities made the decision to close the institution indefinitely. This move aims to prevent further damage and allow time for investigations into the students' complaints. While the school remains closed, discussions between parents, school officials, and education authorities will likely take place to resolve the underlying issues.

The closure of St. Monica highlights a growing trend of student unrest in Kenyan schools. With increasing cases of dissatisfaction with management and leadership, authorities will need to address these concerns to prevent further disruptions in learning institutions across the country.