Lenana School Closed Indefinitely After Night Unrest, Parents Ordered to Pick Students

Lenana School in Nairobi has been closed indefinitely following unrest reported on Monday night, with parents directed to collect their children from the institution starting Tuesday morning.

In a notice sent to parents on June 2, the school administration instructed that all students be picked up beginning at 8:00 a.m., and that no learner would be allowed to leave the compound unaccompanied by a parent, guardian, or authorised representative.

The decision was made by the Board of Management and school leadership after what they described as “restlessness and disturbance” during evening preps on Monday, June 1. The school did not immediately disclose the exact cause of the unrest.

“Following the restlessness and disturbance experienced during preps in the school last night, the Board of Management and the school administration have resolved to temporarily release all students to allow for restoration of normalcy and a comprehensive assessment of the situation,” the notice read in part.

The administration added that the closure is temporary and aimed at restoring order and assessing the situation before students are recalled back to school. Parents were also informed that further communication would be issued later regarding reporting dates and future arrangements.

“Further communication regarding the reporting date and subsequent arrangements will be provided in due course,” the statement added.

The school has not provided additional details on whether there was damage to property or injuries during the incident, nor has it confirmed whether disciplinary or security-related issues are being investigated.

The closure comes at a time of increased concern over student unrest in secondary schools across the country, with several institutions recently reporting disturbances linked to protests, indiscipline, or tension between students and administration.

On the same night as the Lenana incident, Tarakwo High School in Bomet County also reported a fire outbreak. According to the Kenya Red Cross, no casualties were recorded, and emergency response teams were deployed to contain the situation.

Authorities have not yet linked the two incidents, but the pattern of unrest has raised renewed attention on discipline, safety, and mental well-being in boarding schools nationwide. School officials are expected to release further details once investigations into the Lenana School incident are completed.