At least 20 High School students were detained by police on Wednesday, January 13 following an operation in Kamkunji estate, Eldoret.
The students were found in drinking dens and movie halls in the town as police launched an operation to ensure all students report back to school.
Some of the students held by police had escaped school just a week after reporting back to schools following a nine-month break.
Private homes were also targeted in the operation that started at around 8 a.m and lasted more than three hours.
"There is no student who should be found at home, action will be taken against learners found at home.
"Action will also be taken against parents whose children have not reported back to school," said one of the police officers.
Following the operation, some of the parents are asking officers for more time to take their children to school as they were turned back due to lack of school fees.
"When you tell the school heads to give you time, they say the government's request to schools not to send students home for lack of fees was only meant for Nairobi," explained a father in Kamkunji.
"I told the Head Teacher I had no money to pay for school fees. I requested to pay the fees in installments but I was turned back with my child," noted one of the parents.
The government through the Interior Ministry ordered Chiefs, Village Elders and members of Nyumba Kumi to conduct a door-to-door search for students who are yet to report back to school.
In a new circular sent by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang to regional, county and sub-county directors of education were ordered to work with county security officials to trace children and take them to school.
Headteachers were instructed to submit daily attendance registers to sub-county directors of education for onward transmission to directors of primary and secondary education at the Ministry headquarters in Jogoo House.
