Bomet: Kaplong Girls High School Closed as Students Riot over Alleged Misconduct by Male Teacher
- Claire Mitei, the Kaplong Girls High School principal, announced the indefinite closure of the institution
- Students at the Bomet county-based school staged protests calling for the arrest of a male teacher
- Alumni of the school also took to social media, explaining why action should be taken against the male teacher in question
- Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, child protection expert Dr. Mercy Were linked rising school harassment cases to systemic safeguarding failures
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Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - Kaplong Girls High School in Bomet County has been closed indefinitely following a riot by students.
Source: Facebook
KTN News reported that the students staged protests on Saturday, July 19, alleging sexual harassment by a male teacher.
Why was Kaplong Girls closed?
There was tension at the school as rioting students destroyed several school installations, including breaking windowpanes in dormitories and classrooms.
During the unrest, several students were injured and were rushed to St. Claire Kaplong Mission Hospital for treatment.
Officers attached to the Sotik Police Station rushed to the scene and restored normalcy moments before the students were sent home.
The protesting students demanded action against the male whom they accused of repeated cases of inappropriate behaviour.
Principal Claire Mitei announced the indefinite closure of the school, saying the decision was made to restore calm and allow authorities to investigate the matter.
"Following the students' unrest yesterday (Saturday evening) ,you are informed that all the students have been released to go home today, Sunday, 20/07/2025, as from 7.30am until further notice," Mitei said in a notice.
Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, child protection expert Dr. Mercy Were warned that the rising cases of sexual harassment in schools point to systemic failures in safeguarding mechanisms.
She noted that many institutions lack adequate reporting structures, and that students often fear retaliation or dismissal of their concerns.
"Many young girls are silenced either by school culture or by the absence of trusted reporting channels. It is imperative that the Ministry of Education institutes mandatory annual training on child protection for all teachers and staff, and establishes confidential reporting desks in every school. If we are serious about protecting our girls, we must act beyond statements and take structural reform seriously," said Dr. Were. "
What did the Kaplong Girls School principal say?
Mitei called for patience, pledging that the school would treat the claims as allegations pending the outcome of investigations.
"While we take the students' concerns seriously, we must also ensure thorough and impartial investigations. Appropriate actions will be taken once the truth is established," she stated.
The teacher in question is alleged to have engaged some students in inappropriate conversations and advances, with some alumni students claiming on social media that he sent them explicit messages
The incident has triggered widespread concern, with parents, alumni, and the public calling for accountability and immediate action on the accused teacher.
Source: Twitter
How Alliance teacher allegedly ran after school girls
In related development, Alliance Girls High School Alumni Association demanded the arrest of Peter Ayiro, a History and German teacher who has been at the iconic school for over 24 years.
As demonstrated in the investigative piece, Ayiro allegedly leveraged his apparent charisma and the know-how in his disciplines to bait the unsuspecting learners.
Alumnae of the school in Kikuyu, Kiambu county, gathered at the institution on Thursday, July 10, to protest the alleged misconduct of Ayiro.
Following the protests, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced that action would be taken against Ayiro.
Bitok said the Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration would not condone any misconduct perpetrated by teachers against learners in their care.
The PS pointed out that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had been instructed to interdict the said teacher ahead of his arrest and prosecution.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
