With student unrest, dormitory fires and violent incidents becoming increasingly common in Kenyan secondary schools, a growing national debate is emerging over where discipline begins—and whether the country has abandoned the traditional values that once held communities together.
President William Ruto believes part of the answer lies in revisiting Africa’s traditional approach to raising children.
Speaking during the 60th anniversary celebrations of Burieruri Boys Senior School in Meru County on Sunday, the Head of State argued that modern parenting has gradually shifted responsibility for children’s upbringing almost entirely to parents and teachers, weakening the broader community support system that once shaped young people’s behaviour.
“Let us recover the wisdom of African parenting, where no child belonged to one household alone, but to the whole community; where every elder was a guardian and every child a shared responsibility,” the President said.
His remarks have reignited discussion about whether Kenya can borrow from traditional parenting practices to curb the rising cases of indiscipline in schools.
A Community Raised the Child
For generations, African societies embraced the philosophy that raising a child was a collective responsibility.
Children were corrected by parents, grandparents, neighbours, relatives and respected elders without the intervention being viewed as inappropriate. Values such as respect, honesty, responsibility and accountability were reinforced consistently both at home and within the community.
Many education experts argue that this shared responsibility created clear behavioural expectations long before children entered the classroom.
Today, however, rapid urbanisation, changing family structures and demanding work schedules have reduced interactions between children and the wider community. In many households, parents spend long hours away from home, leaving schools to shoulder much of the responsibility for discipline.
Rising Concern Over School Unrest
The renewed conversation comes at a time when Kenya continues to experience frequent cases of school unrest.
In recent years, dozens of schools have reported dormitory fires, destruction of property, violent protests and strikes that have interrupted learning and raised concerns about student welfare.
The Ministry of Education has already announced plans to establish a multi-stakeholder task force to investigate the root causes of school unrest and recommend long-term solutions.
While experts point to factors such as mental health challenges, peer pressure, substance abuse, social media influence and academic pressure, many agree that weakening family support systems have also contributed to changing student behaviour.
Discipline Begins at Home
During his address, President Ruto emphasized that academic success alone cannot build a strong nation without character and discipline.
“A nation may build magnificent schools, but if it neglects character, it builds its future on sand. Knowledge may sharpen the mind, but only discipline governs its use. Talent without discipline is wasted. Freedom without discipline descends into disorder,” he said.
The President urged parents to become more involved in their children’s lives by listening to their concerns, understanding the pressures they face and providing guidance throughout their education.
Can Traditional Parenting Work Today?
Although many Kenyans support the values associated with traditional parenting, experts caution that simply returning to past practices may not fully address today’s challenges.
Modern society presents issues that previous generations did not face, including digital technology, cyberbullying, online influence, changing social dynamics and increasing mental health concerns among young people.
As a result, education specialists argue that restoring discipline requires a balanced approach that combines traditional values with modern parenting techniques, professional counselling, stronger school guidance programmes and open communication between parents, teachers and learners.
Rather than replacing contemporary approaches, traditional African parenting could complement them by rebuilding the sense of shared responsibility that once existed between families, schools and communities.
Government Investments in Education
During the celebrations, President Ruto also announced several development projects aimed at improving learning infrastructure.
He pledged Sh40 million for the construction of 30 classrooms at Burieruri Boys Senior School and Sh20 million for 20 classrooms at the neighbouring Ncunguru Primary School.
In addition, he directed the Ministry of Education to build a Sh70 million multipurpose hall at Burieruri Boys as part of efforts to elevate the institution to national school status.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who accompanied the President, said government spending on education has increased from Sh526 billion in 2022 to Sh784 billion in the 2026/2027 financial year.
A Debate That Extends Beyond Schools
Whether reviving traditional African parenting alone can solve Kenya’s school unrest remains uncertain.
However, President Ruto’s remarks have reopened an important national conversation about the role of families, communities and schools in raising responsible citizens.
As policymakers seek lasting solutions to indiscipline in schools, many observers believe success will depend not on one intervention, but on a combination of stronger parenting, community engagement, effective counselling services and sustained investment in education.
The debate now is not simply about restoring old traditions, but about identifying which values from the past can be adapted to meet the realities facing today’s generation.
