Wave of unrest continues to rock Nyanza schools

One of the torched dormitories at Chulaimbo Boys Secondary School in Kisumu County. A wave of student unrests has hit the country with learners setting school property on fire. PHOTO | VICTOR OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • About 200 students were affected in the fire incident and spent the night in classrooms and dining hall.

The wave of unrest in Nyanza continues to spread after fire gutted down dormitories in Chulaimbo Boys Secondary School (Kisumu) and Usenge High School (Siaya) on Saturday night.

Chulaimbo boarding master Mr Maurice Okuku said no student was hurt in the incident since fire broke out at 9pm while the students were in class for their evening studies.

"The school was calm, everything was fine until about 9pm when there was a loud bang at the prefects’ cube in Owira dormitory. It caught fire immediately which then spread to Omino dormitory. Almost everything was destroyed in the fire," said Mr Okuku.

About 200 students were affected in the fire incident and spent the night in classrooms and dining hall.

The students allegedly chased away firefighters who responded, accusing them of taking too long to arrive at the school.

The school board is currently holed up in a meeting over the incident.

USENGE INCIDENT

Usenge Secondary School in Siaya has been closed down indefinitely after student went on rampage on Saturday night.

At Usenge Secondary School, a dormitory that houses 180 students, was burnt down.

According to the student leader, David Migot, students set the dormitory on fire at about 9pm.

He said tension had been building up in the school with police officers being called in on Friday to assess the situation.

During the Saturday incident, students also smashed classroom windows

Parents have raised concerns over the cause of unrest that has now affected eight schools in Nyanza region.

Schools rocked by unrest are: Maranda, Kisumu Girls, Ng’iya, Ambira, Maliera, Otieno Oyoo, Chulaimbo and Usenge.