Amidst rising school unrest, Kenya's Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Julius Bitok, has instructed school heads to prioritize dialogue over force when addressing student concerns, particularly regarding examinations.

• PS Julius Bitok directed school principals and teachers not to force students into taking examinations, advocating for negotiation instead.
• The directive comes in response to recent unrest, including property destruction and school closures, often triggered by mock examinations and Continuous Assessment Tests.
• A national audit of all boarding schools is ordered within 10 days to assess safety compliance, and 1,000 quality assurance officers will be deployed to help contain unrest.