Kenya students charged over riots

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At least 70 Kenyan students have been charged over unrest at boarding schools across the country.

A student died in Nairobi after students set a dormitory ablaze during protests against the school administration over the weekend.

Education Minister Sam Ongeri has warned that the full force of the law will be used against students who incite their colleagues.

Reports say some 200 students have been arrested following the unrest.

The education minister has set up a committee to probe the causes of the strikes, in which property worth millions was destroyed.

Poor food

Meanwhile, politicians, parents and teachers incensed by the ongoing unrest are now calling for the reinstatement of canning as a form of discipline in schools.

"With school property being destroyed and even lives being lost the government must now act tough on discipline in schools," Tourism Minister Najib Balala said in reaction to the strikes.

Corporal punishment was banned in all learning institutions in Kenya, seven years ago.

However, protesting students complain of poor quality food and harsh rules that impede their freedom while at the boarding schools.

Overcrowding

But some teachers blamed the ongoing unrest on tension among the students who were preparing to start mock examinations this week.

Students from Mbugiti secondary school in central Kenya were arraigned in court and charged with arson and malicious damage to property.

They were released on bail pending hearing of the case.

Mr Ongeri is to issue a statement in parliament on the crisis that has forced about 200 schools to be closed within the last three months.

Kenya introduced a free secondary schooling education programme with a target of raising student enrolment to 1.4 million by the end of the year.

President Mwai Kibaki said the government would pay tuition fees for students, while parents would meet boarding costs and buy uniforms.

This was a key pledge in his campaign for last year's election but slow transfer of the funds has threatened to cripple operations in some institutions

The government has released about $41m to pay for the first phase of the programme.

In 2002, many primary schools were overstretched by unexpected high enrolment of students following the introduction of universal free primary education.

The ministry of education now plans to introduce day wings in some boarding schools and double shifts in some urban schools to cope with the pressure.