by Maxwell Amunga on Sunday, 7 June 2026 – 12:58 pm Education CS Julius Ogamba and PS Julius Bitok, during the release of the 2025 KCSE results at the AIC Chebisaas High School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, on January 9, 2025. Photo MOE Education Principal Secretary, Julius Bitok, has asked schools to consider postponing mock examinations, saying the tests are fueling tension and triggering student unrest across the country. While speaking in an education stakeholders meeting on June 6, PS Bitok said boards of management and school administrations should hold off on the exams if students are clearly not ready, rather than push them into situations that spark riots. “We have asked the boards of management and the school management to reconsider, even postponing the mock exams temporarily, to ensure that students do not riot,” stated PS Bitok. PS Bitok largely attributes examinations and shifting exam schedules in schools to the main causes of unrest and closures. Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok addressing a teachers’ forum in Murang’a County on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Photo Julius Bitok He stressed that forcing students through high-stakes assessments without proper readiness checks was proving counterproductive and that open dialogue would go much further. “Let us have a conversation with the students. If they are not ready for a mock exam, you should be able to engage them. They should be able to tell you if that is what is causing tension in our schools,” stated PS Bitok. The directive comes as tension over exams has been identified as one of the key triggers behind the wave of unrest that has gripped dozens of schools over the past few weeks. For instance, the shifting of exam schedules was one of the reasons that led to the torching of Utumishi Girls’ dormitory , which led to the death of 16 girls and the hospitalisation of scores of others. Thus far, the education Ministry data also reveal that approximately 80 secondary schools in the country have experienced unrest, including devastating arson attacks and precautionary walkouts, leading to indefinite closures or early send-home orders over the last three weeks. To help contain the situation, the government has deployed 1,000 quality assurance officers to affected schools, providing direct support on the ground where it is needed most. A national audit of all boarding schools has also been ordered, set to run over the next 10 days, to establish whether the institutions meet basic safety standards. Bitok further called on parents and teachers to strengthen guidance and counselling structures, and to rebuild student leadership so that learners feel heard rather than managed. Despite the headlines, the PS was quick to reassure the public that the situation remains largely under control, with 99.2 per cent of schools continuing to operate safely and normally, emphasizing that school dates are not going to change. “So I want to tell the country 99.2 per cent of our schools are safe. Learning is going on well less than 80 schools around the country are the ones which have problem and we are not going to change the time dates because of 80 schools out of 52 000 schools,” PS Bitok stated. A collage showing snippets of the CCTV footage of events leading to the Utumishi Academy fire that consumed the lives of 16 girls. Photo Citizen Digital . . . Latest News Ruto Flies Out Again as Details of European Tour Emerge News Just In Sun, 7 Jun 2026 – 4:38 pm Details of Ruto’s Perks for Gor Mahia After 22nd FKF Premier League Title Sun, 7 Jun 2026 – 2:43 pm Port of Mombasa Set for Major Expansion as KPA Builds New Docking Facility Sun, 7 Jun 2026 – 1:49 pm Education Ministry Issues Fresh Guidelines on School Examinations Sun, 7 Jun 2026 – 12:58 pm Govt Announces New Interventions for Victims of Utumishi Fire Tragedy Sun, 7 Jun 2026 – 12:41 pm Safari Rally Champion Secures Prestigious Govt Job Sun, 7 Jun 2026 – 12:01 pm EACC Explains How Millions of Recovered Public Funds A