Kenya: Ongeri Orders Probe Into Rampant Kisii School Fires

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Angwenyi Gichana

28 June 2011

Education minister Sam Ongeri has called for investigations into fire outbreaks in schools in Kisii County. Speaking at Kereri Girls High School at the weekend Ongeri said: “We want proper and conclusive investigations done so that we establish the cause of the fires.”

A dormitory at the school was last week damaged in an inferno which was reportedly caused by an electric fault. No injuries were reported. Ongeri, who was accompanied by MP Robert Monda and councillor Kepher Mogaka, expressed regret over the incident. “We want the cause established alongside other fire outbreaks in the area. We want to deal with this once and for all,” added Ongeri. “It is a pity that this tragedy occurred in a dormitory which was to house more than 500 students.”

Ongeri asked the Ministry of Public Works to assess the viability of the dormitory so that repair work can be done. He said investigations should be done to establish the cause of the fire.

The minister asked the principal Esther Ong’ondi to make alternative arrangements to accommodate the students when they resume from mid-term on Thursday.

He asked schools to do fire drills to measure their preparedness in case of emergencies. “We shall organise guidance and counselling for students in order to prepare them for any eventualities in the future,” said Ong’ondi. About 10 schools in Kisii and Nyamira have been affected by fires in the past months.

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