School fires: 3 dorms razed down

Emergency teams on Monday responded to fire incidents at three secondary school in Meru, Homa Bay and Kakamega counties as the wave of school unrest continues to spread countrywide.

Early morning infernos swept through dormitories at Kathera Boys Secondary School, St Mary's Girls High School and Kandiege Mixed Secondary School destroying property.

MERU

A dormitory at Kathera Boys in Imenti South, Meru was burnt down bringing the number of schools affected in the county to six in the last one month.

No one was injured in the 6am incident but students lost all their belongings.

Imenti South police boss John Cheruiyot said no one is yet to be arrested and investigations were ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.

A dormitory housing 150 students at Kandiege Mixed Secondary School in Homa Bay County was burnt on Monday morning.

The school principal, Philip Okong'o, said the fire started while students were attending a morning assembly.

Police from Rachuonyo North camped at the school to investigate the cause of the fire.

KAKAMEGA

A dormitory housing 114 at St Mary's Girls High School in Mumias, Kakamega was also razed down Monday morning.

The 7.30am incident led to loss of property of unknown value.

School Board of Management chairman Allois Mandu said a store filled with food stuff was reduced to ashes.

"Nearly all property belonging to girls and food in the store was burned," said Mr Mandu.

Nineteen girls suffered trauma after losing their property and were admitted to St Mary's Hospital.

One of the razed dorms at St Mary's Girls High School on July 9, 2018. PHOTO | SHABAN MAKOKHA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Last week, Thuura Boys Secondary School in Meru was closed after three fire incidents, in the last one month, left students without dormitories.

In the latest incident, the only remaining dormitory was gutted on Thursday in a suspected case of arson that has left three dormitories burnt down.

On Friday 15 students arraigned in court and charged with arson. The rampant fire incidents at the school have been blamed on management wrangles in the school.

Imenti North deputy police boss David Kavuu said police were able to identify one of the suspects through CCTV footage at the school.

“The school has experienced three fire incidents but the first two incidents were never reported to us. Some students have been caught with petrol in the past. There are claims of infighting among board members and some local leaders who are against the principal,” the police boss said.

Nyaki East MCA Robert Kithinji said before the fire incidents started last month, there were disputes over misuse of school resources.

Thitha Secondary School in Igembe North, whose dormitory was burnt last month, was closed on Sunday night after students went on rampage.

Other schools affected by fires in Meru include St Luke's High School in Tigania West, Mukuiru Secondary in Tigania East and Kisima Secondary in Buuri Sub-County.

Reporting by David Muchui, Barack Oduor and Shaban Makokha