There was unrest at Ramba Boys High School in Siaya County on Thursday evening after students staged a demonstration demanding the immediate transfer of Principal Wycliffe Manoa, whom they accused of poor leadership and mismanagement.
The protests began around 6 p.m. and quickly escalated, with students torching the school’s security house located near the main gate. They later broke out of the institution and marched to a nearby market center, where they chanted slogans calling for the principal’s removal while waving twigs.
Footage obtained from the scene captured the students in large numbers, shouting in unison as they paraded through the market. Despite efforts by teachers to deescalate the situation, the students stood firm in their demand, vowing not to return to class until the principal was removed.
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This latest round of protests comes just weeks after the school was indefinitely closed following the tragic deaths of two Form Four students, who died after a septic tank collapsed within the school compound. The incident, which occurred on March 23, sparked the first round of unrest at the institution, leading to significant destruction of school property and a refusal by students to attend classes.
According to eyewitness accounts, more than eight students had been standing on the septic tank when it gave way. The two deceased students were confirmed dead by the Rarieda Deputy County Commissioner. A rescue operation involving community members and emergency teams from Siaya successfully retrieved the bodies, which were later taken to the Bondo Hospital mortuary. Several injured students were treated at nearby health facilities.
The deaths, coupled with growing concerns over school management, have left the student body in turmoil, with Thursday’s protest signaling deep-rooted frustrations that have yet to be addressed.
As of Friday morning, school authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Tensions remain high as stakeholders await intervention from the Ministry of Education and local education officials.