Electrical faults not cause of school fires, says Kenya Power

A parent of a student of Itierio Boys Secondary School tries to salvage the remains of his son's box after the students set their dormitories ablaze on June 26, 2016. Kenya Power’s South Regional Manager David Mugambi said an investigation by the firm had revealed that the fires may have been caused by other agents. PHOTO | BENSON MOMANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Itierio Boys High School Principal Andrew Otara is among headteachers who have been interdicted.
  • A dormitory in Itierio Girls High School was on Sunday gutted by mysterious morning fire.

Kenya Power has dismissed claims that electrical faults are to blame for the spate of fires in Kisii schools.

This comes after a section of principals claimed that electrical faults were largely to blame for the infernos.

In a recent interview with the Daily Nation, Nyamache Boys High School Principal Phillip Ogechi, who has since been suspended, said electrical faults had twice caused fires at the institution, resulting in losses worth millions of shillings.

The school was in the news recently after three dormitories caught fire moments after Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i left after attending a function.

On Sunday, Kenya Power’s South Regional Manager David Mugambi said an investigation by the firm had revealed that the fires may have been caused by other agents.

“We have established that our connections to the schools were properly done and the issue of electrical faults does not arise,” he told the Nation.

Mr Mugambi spoke even as two more school hostels in Nyamira and Kisii caught fire at the weekend. A dormitory in Itierio Girls High School was on Sunday gutted by mysterious morning fire that began at 10.30am.

Kisii South OCPD David Mburukwa said the girls were attending a church service when they were alerted of the fire. “We received a report from the principal, Ms Stella Matara, that the dorm was ablaze. Police officers rushed to the scene and joined the local community in putting out the fire,” Mr Mburukwa told the Nation.

It is a sister school of Itierio Boys High School where seven of its 12 dormitories were burnt a fortnight ago. Both are run by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya.

Itierio Boys High School Principal Andrew Otara is among headteachers who have been interdicted. His wife, Ms Mary Otara, who is the Kisii Woman Representative, has protested against the suspension.

In Nyamira County, a dormitory at Don Bosco Nyabiosi Secondary School was torched on Saturday night, leaving dozens of students in the cold.

Properties of unknown value were destroyed in both incidents.