School closed after students clash over alleged religious discrimination
Education
By
Michael Chepkwony and Cyrus Ombati
| Jan 24, 2018
Jamhuri High School in Nairobi was Wednesday closed by the School's board until Monday after at least 35 students were injured during a fight.
Seven of the students had stab wounds after they were attacked by fellow students over claims of religious discrimination.
The fighting broke out on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The school has more than 1,400 students and some of them are day scholars.
The school Principal Fred Awuor is among those injured. Trouble started on Monday when one of the day scholars was bullied and beaten up over a cup he had used, some students said.
This angered some of his colleagues after he reported the matter at the Pangani police station. The issue spiraled back to the school.
Come Tuesday, the other students who saw him with a bandage were angered and accused the school administration of not addressing it.
They also claimed they had been discriminated by being divided into two religious groups- Christians and Muslims- in using amenities like toilets and libraries.
“We don’t see why we should be divided and discriminated on the basis of our religion when using some of these amenities,” said one student.
Other students said some of their prefects were also discriminating and bullying them because of their religion and are day scholars.
On Tuesday night, a fight broke out leading to some students being stabbed and attacked with clubs and stones. Some of the injured were treated and discharged while others are in hospital with stab wounds.
The fighting broke out again Wednesday morning as the day scholars reported which prompted police to intervene.
Nairobi police boss Japheth Koome led a team of security officers to a meeting with the school administration in efforts to address the issue.
The students stayed out of classes for the better part of Wednesday as they waited for word from the meeting.
It was then they were informed of the closure.
More police officers were posted there to beef up security amid fears the fighting would break out again.