Kabarak High School Defends Suspension of Student Allegedly Found in Possession of Vape
Moi High School Kabarak has firmly upheld its disciplinary measures against a Form Four student accused of introducing an electronic cigarette, or vape, into the school premises.
School officials stated that credible intelligence received on February 12, 2026, prompted an immediate investigation by the discipline team, which verified the student's possession of the prohibited item in the dormitory. As a result, the institution issued a temporary suspension, requiring the learner to exit the campus temporarily and return on February 24, 2026, accompanied by a parent for a full disciplinary hearing.
The school maintains that its response aligned fully with internal rules classifying vapes as linked to smoking and banned substances, constituting a grave violation. In supporting documentation presented to the court, the deputy principal highlighted that the student submitted a written apology, confessing to acquiring the device in Nairobi—specifically near Capital Centre—prior to bringing it to school. Despite the hearing proceeding with the student's mother present, the family escalated the issue by filing a legal challenge, alleging the suspension unlawfully interfered with the right to basic education.
In response, Moi High School Kabarak, backed by its Board of Management, lodged a preliminary objection in court, contending that jurisdiction lies first with educational appeal bodies under the Basic Education Act rather than direct High Court intervention. They argued the matter had become moot after the student reportedly withdrew voluntarily. Nevertheless, the High Court issued interim directives for the student's immediate and unconditional readmission pending final resolution, underscoring the priority of continued access to learning amid the ongoing dispute.
