Students save property as dorm is set on fire in Kilifi

Shattered windows of the dormitory at Ganze Girls Secondary School that was razed by fire on July 27, 2016. PHOTO | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Although students from Ganze Boys Secondary School, only separated by a road with the girl’s school, made frantic efforts to put off the fire, the inferno destroyed six double decker beds, 12 mattresses, 24 bed sheets and 12 blankets.
  • A source at the school indicated that the students felt uneasy staying at the school and had issued a warning through a notice on the school notice board that they are tired and fatigued and that they wanted to go home.

Ganze Girl’s High School has joined a list of institutions hit with arson attacks after three cubicles at a dormitory were torched on Wednesday night.

The cause of the fire is still a mystery.

Although students from Ganze Boys Secondary School, only separated by a road with the girl’s school, made frantic efforts to put off the fire, the inferno destroyed six double decker beds, 12 mattresses, 24 bed sheets and 12 blankets.

Kilifi OCPD Alexander Makau who is also acting for Ganze Sub County confirmed the incident and said the matter is currently under investigation.

“We want to establish what caused the inferno. Several people will be questioned as we dig deep into the matter,” he said.

The School Principal Cecilia Mrima, told the press that the fire started when the girls were taking their supper.

“The fire was started in Kahindi dormitory which is the furthest from the administration block. The girls were taking their meal when I saw boys from the nearby Ganze Boys’ High School jumping over the fence to our compound and said there was fire at the dorm. We all rushed to the dormitory and within 15 minutes we were able to contain the fire,” she said.

Ms Mrima said the situation at the school had returned to normal and learning continued.

She however said the decision on whether to close the school or not was the solely that of the board of management.

A source at the school indicated that the students felt uneasy staying at the school and had issued a warning through a notice on the school notice board that they are tired and fatigued and that they wanted to go home.

The principal however denied the claims and said there was nothing like that.

“That is new to me. I have no such information. Usually every Wednesday is our pastoral day and we had our normal prayers. However, we were shocked to see the dorm on fire. I can tell you that the girls had not shown any signs of uneasiness. We are yet to establish if it was set ablaze by our students or someone from outside,” she added.

The Wednesday incident shocked the residents who want the school closed and students sent home.

Retired Ganze location chief Anderson Kahindi said retaining the students at school is not a good idea.

“They attempted and the fire was put off. If they are retained, then they can make it real. When we asked them, they said they want to go home and I think the administration should do exactly that before they cause further destruction,” he said.