Most Kenyans do not believe scrapping boarding schools or giving students more breaks would solve the problem of school fires, instead calling for stronger engagement between learners, teachers and parents alongside firm action against those behind the destruction.
A new TIFA Research survey shows that dialogue and better ways of resolving conflicts in schools received the highest support among 33 measures presented to respondents, with 36 per cent backing the approach.
The findings point to a preference for addressing tensions before they turn into unrest, with Kenyans placing greater weight on communication and accountability than on changing the boarding school system or giving learners additional time away from school.
Harsher punishment for students found responsible for starting fires was the second most supported proposal, attracting 23 per cent of the responses.
Together, the two measures accounted for 59 per cent of all responses, making them the most popular interventions in the survey.
Only 13 per cent of those polled supported doing away with boarding schools as a way of reducing school fires, while nine per cent wanted more government funding for food, school activities and equipment.
Other proposals received much lower levels of support.
Three per cent of respondents backed providing counselling services, while two per cent supported stronger supervision and security in schools. Another two per cent said schools should reduce the number of students they admit.
Only one per cent favoured reducing academic workload and pressure on learners.
A similar one per cent supported increasing government or Ministry of Education oversight of schools. The same share backed giving students more rest and school breaks, while another one per cent supported civic, moral and spiritual education and support.
The findings come as schools continue to deal with a period of unrest that affected institutions across the country between April 27 and July 31, 2026.
Nearly 330 incidents were recorded during the period, including 95 fires and 34 planned or attempted arson attacks. The unrest left 18 learners dead.
The Ministry of Education said 462 learners had been arrested, investigated, taken to court, bonded, remanded, counselled or otherwise processed over alleged involvement in the unrest by July 31.
The cases involved offences including arson, attempted arson and vandalism.
Nyanza recorded the highest proportion of learners processed at 26.2 per cent, followed by Eastern at 25.3 per cent and Rift Valley at 19.5 per cent. No learner was processed in North Eastern.
"As at July 31, a total of 462 learners had been arrested, investigated, arraigned in court, bonded, remanded, counselled or otherwise processed in connection with student unrest incidents countrywide," Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa told the National Assembly Education Committee.
Ololtuaa said investigations into some of the incidents were still underway, with some learners released on bond or bail while others were sent for counselling.
"The arrests have strengthened accountability, facilitated the identification of suspected perpetrators and served as an important deterrent against further acts of arson, vandalism and school unrest," he said.
The survey was conducted as concerns over school unrest grew following the May 28 fire at Utumishi Girls Academy, where 16 students died.
The tragedy led Parliament to investigate the increasing cases of school fires, destruction of property and unrest in learning institutions.
The survey results suggest that, despite the scale of the problem, most respondents are not convinced that removing boarding schools or extending school breaks would be the main answer.
Instead, the strongest support was for improving communication between students, teachers and parents and ensuring that learners responsible for setting fires face tougher punishment.