For decades, several girls’ secondary schools in Kitui County stood as symbols of academic excellence, discipline, and pride for the region. They consistently posted strong KCSE results and shaped generations of professionals who went on to excel nationally and beyond.
Today, a Channel 15 News investigation suggests that this legacy is under strain.
Interviews conducted with teachers, parents, clergy, and education insiders — some speaking on record and others requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter — point to a growing crisis marked by declining academic focus, weakened discipline, and serious student welfare concerns.
Multiple teachers told Channel 15 News that classrooms are increasingly competing with behavioural challenges that were rare just a decade ago. According to one senior educator, respect for authority has steadily eroded, with some students openly challenging teachers and administrators, questioning the consequences of misconduct and displaying a level of entitlement that makes enforcement of school rules difficult.
The impact, educators say, is visible in academic outcomes, as learning gradually takes a back seat to non-academic preoccupations.
The investigation uncovered one particularly alarming incident in Kitui West, where a girls’ high school was forced into abrupt closure following a spike in tension within the institution. According to several independent sources, the situation escalated after school administrators confronted learners over serious misconduct concerns. Threats allegedly followed, creating a volatile environment that prompted emergency interventions by education authorities and security officials. Classes were suspended the following day to avert a potential disaster.
Teachers interviewed by Channel 15 News described a system where disciplinary measures are losing their deterrent effect. Some learners, they say, appear emboldened by the knowledge that expulsion does not necessarily end their academic journey. Well-connected parents can reportedly secure transfers to other institutions, including highly competitive schools, a reality that has weakened accountability and fueled indiscipline.
Beyond the school gates, the investigation points to deeper social challenges. Several educators linked the crisis to diminished parental supervision and weakened home support systems, arguing that schools are increasingly being forced to compensate for gaps that originate outside the classroom.
While acknowledging the complexity of modern family structures, education experts caution that emotional neglect and lack of guidance can significantly affect learner behaviour and academic focus.
Religious leaders have also raised concern. A senior Catholic priest based in Kitui, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, told Channel 15 News that some schools may be failing in their moral guidance and safeguarding responsibilities.
According to the cleric, where mentorship structures collapse and supervision weakens, learners become vulnerable to risky behaviour that ultimately undermines their education and wellbeing.
Channel 15 News further established that some students engage in secretive conduct outside school environments, particularly during opening and closing days, raising questions about supervision, exposure, and the broader safety of learners beyond institutional control. Education specialists warn that addressing such challenges requires more than punishment, urging a coordinated response that involves schools, parents, Boards of Management, and the Ministry of Education.
As pressure mounts, experts argue that restoring discipline and academic excellence will require renewed investment in guidance and counselling, stronger parental engagement, firm but fair school leadership, and enhanced oversight by education authorities.
Channel 15 News reached out to school administrators and education officials in Kitui County for comment. By the time of publication, official responses had not been received. This investigation remains ongoing.
Editorial Note:
To protect minors and uphold ethical journalism standards, Channel 15 News has not named specific schools or students. The findings presented are based on multiple independent sources, and the focus remains on systemic challenges rather than individual blame.
