Eastleigh High School closed indefinitely after student protests over Mosque construction

Eastleigh High School in Nairobi was closed indefinitely on Wednesday after students staged protests accusing the principal of failing to provide space for the construction of a mosque within the school compound.

The protests, which began at around 8 am, were sparked by ongoing frustrations among the students, who claimed that the principal had refused to allow the construction of a mosque despite repeated requests.

According to students who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice under the condition of anonymity, the principal allegedly compared constructing a mosque in the school to "bombing the school."

The students said they had been seeking a space to pray for the last 17 years without success.

During the protests, the students gathered within the school compound, prompting the principal to call in police officers. The police responded by using tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Eastleigh High School students attempted to block General Wariungi Street before they were repulsed by police officers on September 17, 2024. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

The protesting students then moved to General Wariungi Street, where they briefly blocked the road before being forced to retreat after police intervention.

In the aftermath of the demonstrations, several properties at Eastleigh High School were damaged. Broken windowpanes were reported in the laboratory and several classrooms. A TV set and a water dispenser were also destroyed.

Security officials assessing the damage caused by the students of Eastleigh High School on September 17, 2024. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

When The Eastleigh Voice visited the school later in the day, some teachers claimed that students had stolen their phones during the chaos.

Ibrahim Hussein Abdirahman, the chairman of the school's parents' association, spoke to The Eastleigh Voice about the ongoing issue.

He acknowledged the long-standing lack of a designated prayer space for the students but urged them to seek other means to resolve the matter.

Police officers were called in to disperse the Eastleigh High School students on General Wariungi Street on September 17, 2024. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

"A student told me that we have not had a mosque here for the last 17 years, but I told them demonstrations were not the solution," he said.

Following the protests, Kamukunji Deputy County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi and local education stakeholders visited the school to assess the situation.

No official statement was given by the school's administration, and the principal declined to address the media.

The situation remains unresolved, and it is unclear when the school will reopen. Parents, students, and local authorities are expected to engage in further discussions.