Schools in Nairobi Introduce Peer Mentorship to Combat Bullying

In a bid to tackle rising cases of bullying and indiscipline, several secondary schools in Nairobi County have begun rolling out structured peer mentorship programmes. Trained student peer mentors work alongside guidance and counselling teams to identify, support and resolve conflict among their peers. The initiative aims to foster a more supportive environment in schools by allowing learners to turn to fellow students—rather than only teachers—for advice and intervention.
Peer mentoring is being used as a proactive tool to address disruptive behaviour. According to a study in Nairobi’s informal-settlement schools, peer mentorship programmes significantly reduced instances of indiscipline and improved emotional regulation among students. Teachers report that the mentees—some of whom exhibit bullying tendencies—have become more reflective, less aggressive, and more willing to engage positively with their classmates. In many of these schools, peer mentors operate under the supervision of counsellors or teacher mentors, helping resolve tensions before they escalate into formal complaints.
The model is also tied to mental health support. Organisations such as the Shamiri Institute have collaborated with schools to run peer-led therapy and resilience-building sessions, where student mentors facilitate group discussions on stress, peer pressure and bullying. School leaders say these peer-led spaces allow students to speak up more freely about their struggles, reducing the barriers to seeking help. Parents have welcomed the initiative, noting that in some cases, peer mentors have provided early detection of bullying behaviour before it spirals out of control.
Looking ahead, education stakeholders are advocating for a more systematic scale-up of the peer mentorship model across Nairobi. Researchers recommend strengthening mentorship policies, offering regular training for peer mentors and embedding mentorship into the school calendar. If implemented consistently, the peer mentorship approach could become a cornerstone for anti-bullying and student-support frameworks in Nairobi’s urban schools.