A routine examination monitoring exercise at Nyabisase SDA Mixed Secondary School in Bobasi, Kisii County, descended into violence on Thursday after students attacked police officers and Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) officials, seizing a police officer’s firearm in the process.

The students reportedly held the Ceska pistol for nearly three hours before police recovered it following an extensive search of the school compound.

Several police officers and KNEC officials sustained injuries during the confrontation, according to Kisii County Police Commander Ronald Kirui, who confirmed the incident.

Students at Nyabisase School in Kisii attack KCSE officials and police, seize a firearm for nearly three hours before its recovery.

The incident occurred on November 5, 2026, when a multi-agency team visited the school to monitor the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

The team included KNEC officials accompanied by police officers from Nairobi. The monitoring exercise was reportedly prompted by concerns over suspected examination irregularities.

What began as an official inspection quickly escalated into a confrontation, with students turning against the visiting team.

Kirui confirmed that the firearm had been recovered and was in police custody as investigations continued.

"We have recovered the firearm. It is now with us," the police commander said, according to reports by the Daily Nation.

Anti-riot officers were subsequently deployed to the institution to restore order. Authorities also ordered the school closed and directed candidates to return home.

A school with a history of unrest

Thursday's violence is not the first time Nyabisase has experienced serious unrest.

In July 2026, the school was rocked by protests following the appointment of a new principal by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

The demonstrations escalated into clashes between students and teachers, with both sides reportedly throwing stones. A girls' dormitory was also set ablaze, forcing the institution to close indefinitely as authorities investigated the incident.

The earlier unrest followed the retirement of the school's long-serving principal, David Ogega, and the appointment of a replacement from a neighbouring institution.

The latest confrontation has renewed attention on security and discipline in schools, particularly during national examinations when officials are expected to protect the integrity of the assessment process.

Questions remain over examination security

The recovery of the firearm has brought one part of the security incident to a close, but questions remain about how the students gained possession of a police officer's weapon and what triggered the confrontation.

Police have confirmed that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the loss of the firearm are under way.

The available reports do not include a detailed account from the school administration, KNEC or student representatives explaining what sparked the confrontation.

Students at Nyabisase School in Kisii attack KCSE officials and police, seize a firearm for nearly three hours before its recovery.

As investigations continue, attention will also turn to the welfare of the injured officials and the arrangements for candidates whose examinations were disrupted.

The incident presents another challenge for education and security authorities as they work to ensure that the national examinations are conducted in a safe and orderly environment.