Losses as fire destroys dormitory in Vihiga

Students of Givole Secondary School in Hamisi Sub-County lost property of unknown value after a fierce fire gutted their dormitory.

A parent checks remains of a student's property after fire destroyed a dormitory at Givole Secondary School in Hamisi Constituency, Vihiga County on June 30, 2016. Over 74 students lost their personal effects in the inferno. [PHOTO: ERIC LUNGAI/STANDARD]

Principal Joselin Isigi said she suspected that neighbours may have sneaked into the school and started the fire.

"There is high likelihood that someone from outside sneaked in through the fence and started the fire. We don't know the reasons behind the attack. All our 74 students who were using the dormitory were affected," said Ms Isigi.

She they have already launched investigations into the incident.

Isigi said a some students sustained injuries while trying to salvage their property. She exonerated her students saying they did not start the fire.

However, the principal's statement contradicted an earlier one by the chairman of the Board of Management Wilberforce Agesa who said students had written to the principal over some grievances which may not have been addressed.

"While the principal was in a meeting in Mombasa, students wrote a letter and pushed it under her door," said Agesa.

He noted that the students had expressed concern that they were being forced to fetch water from a nearby stream and were also being harassed by teachers. He said there was a lot of indiscipline at the school. "The students had threatened to take action if nothing was done," Agesa said.

However, Agesa who condemned the act, said the school is doing everything possible to make sure students are comfortable.

This comes even as Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i's directed school boards to hold meetings with students and listen to their grievances.

In the last week, over five schools have experienced arson attacks in Western and Nyanza regions. Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi said fires in schools are sometimes caused by unqualified electricians.