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Description
Background: Kenya’s education history has been punctuated by numerous cases of school unrest in the past. Fatal incidents such as those at St. Kizito Mixed Secondary School (1991), Kyanguli Secondary School (2001), Moi Girls High School (2017), and Utumishi Girls Academy (2026), which resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property, underscore the extreme consequences of unaddressed student grievances and structural friction. At least 330 cases of school unrest had been recorded within less than 2 months in June 2026, including 95 fire incidents and 34 attempted arson attacks, resulting in the loss of 18 learners' lives(1). An arson incident in Utumishi Girls in May 2026 killed 16 students and left 79 students injured. (2)The frequent recurrence of these cases points to unaddressed underlying factors that are being overlooked, pointing towards the need for a deeper and more introspective outlook into this issue to prevent future deaths.
Broad Objective: To explore the causes of unrests in Kenyan Senior Schools and any associated underlying mental health issues.
Specific Objectives:
1. To identify the primary systemic and environmental triggers of repeated unrests in Kenyan senior schools.
2. To assess the prevalence of psychological distress indicators such as anxiety, depression and substance use among students in Kenyan senior schools.
3. To determine the accessibility and effectiveness of existing mental health support frameworks such as guidance and counselling services within Kenyan senior schools.
Methods: This study will employ a mixed-methods cross-sectional design. Using stratified cluster sampling approach, participating institutions will be selected across Cluster 1 to Cluster 4 school categories, for both genders, both private and public institutions and both of those who have had unrest and fires and those who have not. Quantitative data will be captured using structured, self-administered questionnaires incorporating psychological screening tools. Qualitative insights will be drawn from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the students and separately with the teachers, parents and school heads. Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of distress and unrest. Qualitative data will undergo framework-based thematic analysis to contextualize systemic triggers and institutional coping mechanisms. Statistical significance is set at p values of <0.05. Ethical approval will be sought from the relevant institutional review boards, with strict adherence to informed consent, parental consent, and minor assent protocols.
Expected Outcomes: The study is expected to provide a deeper understanding of the underlying causes of student unrests in Kenya. This is geared towards enhancing government policy in steering high schools and also guiding the way other stakeholders like administrators, parents and teachers relate with current students. The need for interventions for any underlying issues such as mental health issues that could be causing the unrest will also be identified. Systemic policy reforms and support programs towards preventing future cases of unrest will now be stipulated.
COI STATEMENT: The authors declare no competing interests.
FUNDING STATEMENT: This study has not received any funding as of the time of writing this abstract.
REFERENCES
1. Daily Nation [Internet]. 2026 [cited 2026 Jul 2]. Ministry: 330 cases of school learning disruptions recorded since April. Available from: https://nation.africa/kenya/news/education/ministry-330-cases-of-school-learning-disruptions-recorded-since-april-5505552
2. Daily Nation [Internet]. 2026 [cited 2026 Jul 2]. Utumishi Girls to reopen as principal sent on leave. Available from: https://nation.africa/kenya/counties/nakuru/utumishi-girls-to-reopen-as-principal-sent-on-leave--5513514
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