Itierio Girls closed indefinitely as fire razes dormitory

Students at Iterio Girls High school in Kisii have been sent home following a fire which razed a dormitory on Sunday morning.

At least 70 students had their personal effects destroyed in the mysterious fire which broke out as the students were attending a church service.

The girls’ school neighbours the ill-fated Itierio Boys which closed indefinitely after seven of its dormitories were gutted in a night inferno.

Both schools are sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya church which has since dismissed the interdiction of the Itierio Boys head Mr Andrew Otara.

“We received a report by the school principal Ms Stella Matara that the dorm was ablaze. My officers rushed to the scene and joined the local community in putting out the fire,” Kisii South Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) David Mburukwa told the Nation.

Mr Mburukwa said that the fire broke out in the dorm which was locked.

Police officers from the Gesonso Police Post had to break into the dorm as the helped fight the fire.

Property of unknown value including the students’ personal effects was destroyed.

Meanwhile, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) chairman Mr Jairus Onchoke warned principals against covering up arson incidents by attributing school fires to electric faults.

“Principals should not rush to blame fires on electric faults. Electricity connections are innocent in this matter,” he said.

He however said that the extent of the damage witnessed in some of the incidents could not be solely attributed to student unrest.

“From the damage we have witnessed in some of the affected schools, we strongly suspect that outside forces were involved,” he said.