Nairobi, Kenya | November 7, 2026

Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School in Bobasi, Kisii County, is facing fresh scrutiny after students allegedly attacked police officers and examination officials who had visited the institution to investigate suspected irregularities during the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, November 5, escalated into a violent confrontation that left several members of a multi-agency examination monitoring team injured.

In one of the most alarming developments, students reportedly disarmed a police officer and seized his Ceska pistol, holding onto the firearm for nearly three hours before it was recovered following an extensive search within the school compound.

According to Kisii County Police Commander Ronald Kirui, the monitoring team comprised Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) officials accompanied by police officers from Nairobi. The team had visited the institution following concerns over possible examination malpractice.

Investigators reportedly discovered a laptop concealed behind the school's administration offices, raising further questions about the suspected examination irregularities. However, its connection to any alleged malpractice remains subject to investigation.

The situation deteriorated when students allegedly turned against the visiting officials, attacking police officers and examination personnel before taking control of a vehicle belonging to one of the officers.

Police later recovered the firearm and confirmed that it was in their custody as investigations continued into the circumstances surrounding its seizure.

Police Officer Reportedly Missing

Among those affected was Corporal Leonard Siele, who was reportedly seriously assaulted during the confrontation.

The officer was also reported missing after the incident, prompting a search to establish his whereabouts. Reports indicated that students had seized and damaged his vehicle during the violence, while some personal belongings were allegedly taken.

Authorities had not publicly confirmed his whereabouts in the initial reports, leaving questions about his condition and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Police also confirmed that four security officers, including three Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives and a National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer, sustained injuries during the confrontation.

One of the injured officers was reportedly airlifted to Nairobi for further medical attention.

Following the incident, anti-riot police officers were deployed to the institution to restore order and secure the premises. Authorities subsequently ordered the school closed and directed students to return home.

KNEC Launches Independent Investigation

The Kenya National Examinations Council has launched an independent investigation to establish what happened and determine the circumstances that led to the violence.

KNEC Chief Executive Officer Dr David Njegere, who was part of the team that visited the school, confirmed that the council was reviewing the incident and would provide a comprehensive update.

Njegere indicated that the council expected to issue a detailed statement on Monday, November 9.

Kisii County Police Commander Ronald Kirui also vowed that those found responsible for criminal offences would face prosecution, regardless of their age.

The incident has attracted criticism from education stakeholders, particularly over the conduct of examination monitoring exercises and the level of security deployed at examination centres.

KUPPET officials in the region have questioned what they described as excessive surveillance and intimidating security operations, arguing that monitoring activities should not compromise the safety of teachers, school administrators and candidates.

The union has also raised concerns over complaints from school principals in Kisii and Nyamira counties regarding alleged harassment and pressure during the examination period.

School's History of Unrest

The latest confrontation has revived memories of earlier unrest at the same institution in July 2026, when students protested against the appointment of a new principal by the Teachers Service Commission.

The protests reportedly escalated into violent clashes involving students and teachers, with stones thrown during the confrontation.

The unrest took a destructive turn when a school dormitory was set ablaze, forcing authorities to close the institution as investigations into the violence commenced.

The incident disrupted learning and raised concerns about student discipline, school leadership and the challenges facing education administrators in maintaining order within learning institutions.

The recurrence of violence at Nyabisase has renewed questions about the institution's management and the measures required to prevent further unrest.

KCSE Examinations Resume Under Heightened Security

Despite Thursday's confrontation, the KCSE examination exercise resumed at Nyabisase on Friday under heightened police surveillance.

The incident has intensified debate over the security of national examinations, particularly as authorities continue efforts to eliminate cheating and protect the credibility of the KCSE.

The suspected discovery of examination-related irregularities, the assault on security personnel and the seizure of a police firearm have placed the institution at the centre of renewed national attention.

As investigations continue, authorities face the task of establishing what triggered the confrontation, determining the relevance of the laptop reportedly discovered at the school, accounting for the missing officer and identifying those responsible for the violence.

The developments have also left parents and education stakeholders concerned about the safety of candidates and the potential disruption of their final secondary school examinations.