Mystery of dormitory fires in Kisii, Migori

Dormitories of at least six secondary schools in Kisii and Migori counties have been burnt down in mysterious fires over the last two weeks, leaving county and education officials puzzled.  

Some of the schools affected in Kisii County include Cardinal Otunga Mosocho Boys High School, St Peter’s Nyamesocho, St Michaela and, recently, St Peters Suneka Mixed secondary schools.

In Migori County, fire damaged the dormitory at Bondo Kosiemo secondary school Sori in Nyatike sub-county. 

Two weeks ago, one of the dormitories at St Joseph’s Rapogi High School in Uriri sub-county was also burnt by suspected arsonists just days after students reported back from holiday. 

Most of the dormitory fires have occurred in schools sponsored by the Catholic church.

On Saturday, Migori County education executive officer Michael Ogutu told the Sunday Nation the trend is worrying.

“I want to ask the police to conduct thorough investigations to establish whether these attacks are organised internally or are isolated cases of crime,” he said.

Kisii Governor James Ongwae directed the county education chairman, Dr Henry Pondera, to form a committee to look into the cause of the fires.  

He said there have been too many fires to be a mere coincidence.

NOT YIELDED ANYTHING

Mr Ongwae and his deputy, Mr Joash Maangi, led senior county government officials to St Peter’s Nyamesocho Secondary School in Bomachoge Borabu, where a dormitory was destroyed by fire recently. 

County director of education Richard Chepkawai said investigations have not yielded anything.

“We have spoken with students, teachers and school staff, but we can’t seem to find the culprit or the evidence,” he said.

“There is a problem here. We can’t have so many schools going up in flames mysteriously and the school authorities are not telling us what is happening,” Mr Chepkawai said.

The deputy governor last week convened a meeting with the county education board to deliberate on the same.

At Bondo Kosiemo secondary school, for instance, the fire broke out at 8 pm when students were in class. Nothing was salvaged.

Migori county police commander David Kirui had initially suspected an electric fault but promised to carry out further investigations.

Area ward representative Tom Mboya called on the county government and local leaders to help rebuild the dormitory.

In Kisii County, Cardinal Otunga Mosocho Boys Secondary was closed indefinitely after three dormitories were burnt down.

Principal Zachary Nyariki told the Sunday Nation that the suspected arsonists struck twice.

The principal said the students helped put out the first fire that affected an adjacent dormitory. The county fire department officials never showed up, he said.

He said arsonists struck again on May 13, setting another dormitory ablaze.

“This time fire fighters arrived, but too late. Students had already put it out,” he said, adding that more than 200 students lost their belongings.

At St Joseph’s Rapogi High School in Uriri sub-county, beds, bedding and personal effects of about 80 students went up in flames.

“We are shocked by this tragedy coming at the beginning of the second term. We are yet to establish the cause of these fires,” the principal, Mr Maurice Ndolo, said.

The county administration later donated mattresses and bedding.