DNK International By Our Correspondent,Mwingi.
Tension rocked Syiongii Mixed Boarding Secondary School in Mwingi Central,Kitui county after students marched out of the institution following a dispute over water supply.
The reported incident led to assaults and public unrest.
According to a police report filed at Mwingi Police Station, the incident was reported on Sunday by the school’s Deputy Principal Stephen Kyale Mulili.
He stated that at around 9.00 a.m., students left the school and headed to Syiongii Market, allegedly to confront a local resident suspected of vandalising Kitui County Government water pipes supplying water from a borehole adjacent to the school.
Police officers rushed to Syiongii Centre, Mathiakani Location, about 12 kilometres from Mwingi Police Station, where they established that the school principal Maive Philip, accompanied by some students, had confronted and assaulted Jackson Savali, a 22.year old man suspected of damaging the water pipes.
The victim sustained minor injuries to his legs, back and head, but was rescued from the agitated crowd and managed to escape during the commotion.
In a turn of events, the school principal was later assaulted by members of the public, sustaining soft tissue injuries.
Investigations revealed a long standing dispute between the local community and the principal, with allegations that he had been charging residents for water at a kiosk within the school compound, despite the borehole and water project being owned by the Kitui County Government.
With the intervention of police officers, the area chief and the ward administrator, calm was restored and students returned to school.
The principal was referred for medical attention, while community leaders were advised to channel their grievances through lawful and appropriate mechanisms.
[DNK-International@January 26,2026]
