Nyabisase School's troubled history of unrest, exam malpractice
Education
By
Lewis Nyaundi and Stanley Ongwae
| Nov 07, 2026
Nyabisase Secondary School in Kisii County is facing fresh scrutiny over a history of student unrest after learners attacked examination officials and police officers, seized a firearm and injured a security officer during the ongoing national examinations.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, is the latest in a series of controversies at the institution, where students set a dormitory ablaze in July 2026 during protests against the appointment of a new principal.
The school also made headlines in 2019 when nearly 200 candidates had their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results cancelled over examination malpractices.
The latest incident has raised concerns about the security of national examinations.
Several examination officials and security officers were injured in the confrontation, prompting the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to review security arrangements at the centre and replace the invigilators and supervisors.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba condemned the violence, describing the students' conduct as unacceptable.
In a response to The Standard, Ogamba said investigations had been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether teachers were involved.
He said the investigations were expected to be completed today, after which appropriate action would be taken against those found culpable.
The CS said KNEC would determine how to handle the candidates involved, including the administrative measures to be taken against them.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere travelled to the school to assess the situation following the confrontation.
Dr Njengere said the police officer who was attacked remained in hospital receiving treatment but was in stable condition.
“We expect the investigation to end today before any action is taken. The centre manager has not been moved from the institution until the investigations are completed,” he said.
Yesterday, security remained tight at Nyabisase, with six police officers deployed inside and outside the school gate as national examinations entered their first week.
County Police Commander Ronald Kirui said the students attacked four officers who had visited the centre to monitor the examinations, pelting them with stones while shouting at them.
During the confrontation, one officer fired six shots to scare the students before the learners overwhelmed the team and seized his pistol.
The students then cornered and assaulted the officer, leaving him with injuries that required specialised medical attention.
Kirui said police fired a total of eight shots during the confrontation.
Officers launched a search for the stolen firearm, which lasted seven hours, from around 11am to 8pm.
“We mounted a search that took us around seven hours to recover the pistol,” Kirui said.
“The police officer is in a stable condition and he is currently receiving specialised treatment. He mainly suffered bruises and blunt trauma,” he added.
Investigations into the incident have been launched, with police saying the next course of action would be determined once inquiries are complete.
The latest violence follows another major incident at the school in July 2026, when students set a dormitory ablaze during protests against the posting of Richard Ondati as principal.
Ondati had replaced Davis Ogeturengi, who had retired.
A viral video of the incident showed teachers and students engaging in a stone-throwing confrontation as the unrest escalated.
The students had reportedly opposed Ondati's appointment, arguing that his previous school was of a lower category than their C2 institution.
The school had also attracted national attention in 2019 after close to 200 candidates had their KCSE results cancelled over examination malpractices.
Meanwhile, tension surrounding Thursday's incident was still evident on Friday when Standard Group journalists visited the institution to establish what had happened.
Members of the Nyabisio community, where the school is situated, appeared reluctant to speak to strangers seeking information about the confrontation.
One Standard Group reporter was detained for close to an hour after attempting to photograph the school gate along the Mogonga-Mosaria Road.
The reporter had alighted near the entrance to take photographs when the school watchman raised an alarm, attracting police officers who detained him.
The school's principal, Ondati, who reportedly ordered the detention, allegedly threatened to unleash students who had completed their Chemistry practical examination to assault the journalist.
“You are just a fool who only wants to spoil for our school. You will be served well if we let the students unleash their anger on you,” the principal said.
The journalist was dragged inside the school compound as he attempted to photograph the gate before officers from the nearby Omosaria Police Station intervened and escorted him to safety.
Inside the administration block, invigilators and internal examination officers confronted the reporter, accusing him of portraying the examination centre negatively.