More dormitories go up in flames
A police officer looks at a book on June 30, 2016 inside one of two dormitories that were burnt at Givole Secondary School in Vihiga on the previous night. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- A couple of students were slightly injured as they tried to salvage their property.
- Officers from the nearby Serem Police Station on Thursday set up camp at the school to investigate the cause of the fire, which the principal promptly blamed on outsiders.
Two dormitories were set on fire at Givole Secondary School in Vihiga on Wednesday night amid a wave that has flared in parts of the country in the past week.
A couple of students were slightly injured as they tried to salvage their property.
Officers from the nearby Serem Police Station on Thursday set up camp at the school to investigate the cause of the fire, which the principal promptly blamed on outsiders.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, the principal, Joseline Isigi, said there were strong indications that the students were not involved.
Ms Isigi alleged that some unknown people sneaked into the school compound at around 9:50pm and set the makeshift dormitories ablaze.
“We cannot blame this on our students. Some strangers made their way into the school when the students were doing their night preps,” she said.
“There is an opening in the fence, which the arsonists might have used to enter the premises,” said Ms Isigi.
According to the principal, the two dormitories were set up temporarily due to an influx of new students.
A new dormitory that will accommodate 210 students is being built.
“Students and local residents helped to put out the fire,” said the principal.
About 70 students lost their bedding, boxes, uniforms, textbooks, exercise books and money.
Givole joins a growing list of schools that have fallen victim to arson attacks recently.
The list comprises Itierio High School, Naikuru and Nyamache in Kisii.
