Night inferno destroys property at a Kirinyga school
The St Peters Secondary School Kandara dormitory that was razed by fire. PHOTO | MARY WAMBUI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- According to witnesses, pupils of Mary Immaculate Education Complex Primary School were proceeding to the dining hall for supper when they saw a thick smoke billowing from one of the storeyed buildings.
- Mr Obeto said were it not for quick intervention of the police, the fire would have caused massive damage to property belonging to the learners and the institution.
Fear gripped pupils of a boarding school in Kirinyaga County on Tuesday night when fire broke out in one of the dormitories.
The fire which started in one of the dormitories at around 7pm destroyed property worth thousands of shillings but no one was injured during the incident.
According to witnesses, pupils of Mary Immaculate Education Complex Primary School were proceeding to the dining hall for supper when they saw a thick smoke billowing from one of the storeyed buildings.
The panic-stricken pupils screamed for help, attracting the attention of their teachers who called the police who responded quickly.
Assisted by the pupils and the teachers, the officers fought the fire with water and brooms and managed to put it out.
According to the area criminal investigations officer, Mr Boaz Obeto the fire started in the cubicle of one of the pupils on the first floor of the building and razed down property belonging to few pupils.
Mr Obeto said were it not for quick intervention of the police, the fire would have caused massive damage to property belonging to the learners and the institution.
"We acted very fast and managed to assist in extinguishing the fire whose cause could not be immediately established," said Mr Obeto.
Mr Obeto said investigations had been launched with a view of establishing the cause of the fire.
However, the teachers said they suspected the fire, which caused a stampede, could have been caused by an electric fault.
"The truth of the matter will be revealed by the investigations which have kicked off," said one of the teachers who sought anonymity.
Elsewhere in Murang'a county, a dormitory was razed by fire at St Peters Secondary School Kandara last on Tuesday night. The cause of fire has not yet been established.
Murang'a county commissioner termed the incident as unfortunate while confirming the incident. He added that police have good leads as to what caused the fire.
The school Principal said the school will be closed on Wednesday afternoon after an emergency meeting with the Board of Management.
(Additional reporting by Mary Wambui)
