KNUT Blames Parents and Politics for School Unrest

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu, has been quoted as accusing parents and politicians of failing in their responsibilities leading to the current spate of school unrest and disturbances across the country.

Oyuu was addressing a gathering at a school function in Keiyo South on Saturday, June 12, 2026.

He asserted that most parents have abandoned the role of mentoring their children.

Oyuu said parents have become “removed from their children’s learning process” as they are often not present during school functions and do not attend parent-teacher meetings.

“The parents do not even come to school-parent meetings… They are detached from what their learners are doing in school,” Oyuu added.

Political Influence and Teacher Welfare Amid School Unrest

He also turned the spotlight on the political class, claiming their activities create a toxic environment which then finds its way into our schools.

In spite of this criticism directed at some stakeholders in the sector, Oyuu has maintained his confidence in his working relationship with the government, claiming it has produced desired outcomes for teachers such as the recent recruitment of “100,000 teachers as a historic achievement for KNUT.”

Oyuu’s sentiments come amid widespread school closures and disturbances in Kenya.

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Escalation of School Fires and Unrest Leads to a Nationwide Safety Audit

This comes after the fire incident that occurred at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, “where sixteen students were tragically burnt beyond recognition on June 28, 2026, with over 70 others injured”.

The country’s Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, on Thursday announced that “an urgent, targeted safety audit will be carried out on at-risk boarding schools nationwide following an escalation of school unrest and fires that has affected 204 schools so far”.

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The CS cited leadership failure, pressure to perform under exams, use of drugs and sub-standard boarding school conditions as major causes for the disturbances.

Ogamba, however, has stated that the school mid-term break scheduled to begin on June 28 would proceed as planned.

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A hero Cecilia Wanjikuho died saving her classmates, . Rest in peace / PHOTO Files