Litein Boys’ Parents Slapped With Ksh 69 Million Fine For Student Rampage

Parents of students at Litein Boys’ High School in Kericho County are facing a colossal bill of nearly Ksh 70 million to cover the cost of destruction caused by a violent student riot that led to the school’s indefinite closure in September 2025.

The school’s Board of Management (BOM) has ordered the parents to collectively pay Ksh 69,578,795 to repair and replace property damaged during the unrest. With approximately 1,400 learners at the institution, this translates to an individual fine of approximately Ksh 49,699 per student.

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The Scale of Destruction

The chaos erupted on the night of Sunday, September 21, 2025, stemming from student complaints over issues including allegedly poorly cooked food and reportedly being denied permission to watch an English Premier League match.

The rampage left the academic giant in ruins, with damages including:

• An administration block, valued at Ksh 18 million, was reportedly torched.
• Dormitories, classrooms, and offices were set ablaze or vandalized.
• CCTV cameras were destroyed, windows were smashed, and furniture was ruined.
• Students even reportedly drove one of the school buses from its parking bay and engaged in bizarre antics like riding the school’s dairy cow.

Kericho Governor Eric Mutai, an alumnus, condemned the chaos, confirming that at least eight boys have been arrested in connection with the destruction.

Parents Association Challenges the Fine

The decision to impose the heavy financial burden was reached after meetings between the Parents Association (PA), the BOM, and regional engineers to assess the damage. However, the PA has expressed strong discontent with the amount and the school’s priorities.

According to a summary shared by the PA, the total damage cost was initially estimated to be higher, nearly Ksh 100 million if compensation for teachers and supplies was fully factored in. While the final amount was slightly reduced by removing costs for intact painting, the PA insists the fine remains excessive.

The PA faulted the board for focusing primarily on collecting the payment rather than addressing the underlying causes of the repeated unrest. Parents have threatened to seek court intervention, arguing that costs for rebuilding burnt dormitories should be covered by government capitation funds, not solely by parents.

The school has announced a phased readmission schedule, but the BOM has made it mandatory that all outstanding fees and the imposed damage costs must be cleared before any learner is allowed back to school.