Photos of President William Ruto commissioning a dormitory at Litein Boys High School in Kericho have resurfaced, days after the institution was rocked by violent student unrest.
The dormitory, opened in February 2014 when Ruto was Deputy President, is believed to be among the buildings torched during the strike.
Did William Ruto Open the Burned Dormitory?
The resurfaced photos show Ruto cutting a ribbon and addressing students during the launch of a new modern dormitory block at Litein Boys.
Sharing the images at the time, he wrote on Facebook:
“Later I was at Litein High School where I opened a dormitory and interacted with students.”
The dorm was meant to decongest boarding facilities and provide a more conducive learning environment for students.
More than a decade later, the once-celebrated structure is thought to have been among those destroyed in a violent rampage that has left the school temporarily shut.
Details of the Litein Boys Strike
The chaos broke out on September 21, 2025, reportedly triggered by a dispute over a Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City.
What began as unrest escalated into full-blown destruction:
- Dormitories and classrooms were set ablaze.
- Students broke into the bursar’s office, stealing around KSh 2 million from an electric safe.
- The principal’s home was vandalised.
- Some students bizarrely cooked chapatis inside a dormitory and were filmed riding cows in the compound.
- A threatening graffiti message targeting principal Richard Sang was left on the wall, warning of dire consequences if the school failed to reopen.
At least 10 students were arrested, and CCTV footage has since helped police identify other culprits.
School Responds to Damage Claims
Reports circulating online suggested that Litein Boys planned to charge each student KSh 137,000 in damages and bar transfers to other schools.
However, the administration dismissed the claims as misleading.
“Our attention has been drawn to the information circulating on social media about steps taken after the unrest. We wish to inform stakeholders that official communication will be shared in due course,” the school said in a statement.
Kericho Governor Eric Mutai confirmed investigations are ongoing, with authorities vowing to hold the perpetrators accountable.
Bigger Picture
The resurfaced images of Ruto’s 2014 visit have stirred debate online, with many Kenyans lamenting how a dormitory once launched with optimism could be destroyed in such senseless chaos.
For now, Litein Boys remains closed, as parents, students, and education officials await clarity on the way forward.
