No end in sight of unrest as more schools torched

More schools went up in flames in Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Kisii and Meru counties as the wave of unrest continued unabated.

In Kiganjo, Nyeri County, six students of Gachika Secondary School were arrested after two dormitories were torched on Sunday evening.

The dormitories accommodated about 102 students. Nothing was salvaged in the fire.

The fire at the mixed, day and boarding school is said to have started in one of the dormitories at around 6pm while the students were attending an entertainment session.

According to Kieni East divisional police commander Michael Mbaluku, a 250ml jerrican believed to have been used to ferry petrol was found in a toilet.

And in Kirinyaga County, property worth thousands of shillings was destroyed at Ngaru Girls Secondary School when a huge fire broke out.

No one was injured in the fire that started in one of the dormitories on Sunday evening.

According to area head of police, Mr Eliud Monari, 120 girls are out in the cold after the dormitory was destroyed. He said an investigation had been launched.

A worker said they saw a thick smoke billowing from the dormitory before a huge fire broke out.

Elsewhere in Nyamira County, nothing was salvaged when a dawn fire razed a dormitory Monday at Prince Dan private secondary school.

Borabu sub-county police boss Antony Onyango said students were in class for their morning studies when the incident occurred.

“We suspect arson but we have launched investigations to determine the real cause,” said Mr Onyango.

Esise MCA Theresa Nyaanga called on Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to move with speed and end the “madness of burning schools”.

Kilometres away in Imenti South, Meru County, a building at St Agnes Gaukune Girls Secondary School was on Sunday night burnt down.

The timber building which had four rooms used as a store, home science class room and store and mosque was razed to ashes.

The incident, which started around 9pm when the students were in class, was reported by the principal Harriet Nduara who noticed smoke emanating from the building.

Meru County police commander Samson Kinne said mattresses, lockers and washing basins which were in the building were burnt.