IEBC to oversees prefect elections in new rules to manage school arson attacks

Students at St. Peter Boys High School in Kandara, Murang’a County marking some of the ballot boxes that were hired from IEBC office for their elections in early 2016. PHOTO: STANDARD/FILE

NAIROBI: No one should be allowed to sell or buy petrol in a jerican without a letter from the area authority, the National Disaster Management Unit has recommended in its report on schools arson attack.

Also, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been preferred as the sole electoral body to handle school elections as a move to avoid likelihood of teachers imposing leaders on students. The elections include selection of head boys and head girls, prefects, dormitory heads and monitors.

These are among a mast of endorsed recommendations by the NDMU in collaboration with other stakeholders as the new strategy to deal with the now rampant menace of school fires.

According to the recommendations contained in a report culminating from a stakeholder's forum held on July 20 in Kisii County, one will now need a letter from the chief or the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) in order to purchase petrol in a jerican.

The stakeholders drawn from both the county and national government agencies in matters disaster, security and education also proposed installation of CCTV cameras in schools and for the IEBC to handle school elections.

The elected student leaders should be involved in formulating of new policies in schools, the stakeholders recommended.

"There will be no selling of petrol in jericans. The office of the County Commissioner and that of the County Police Commander to ensure that this is enforced," read the recommendation received and endorsed by NDMU Deputy Director Pius Masai.

It added: "For anyone to buy petrol in a jerican, then they should have a letter from the OCS or the chief of the area."

Further, there should be regular checks on electricity connections in schools by the Kenya Power officials and that every school should at least have a teacher who is a trained fire marshal.

The County Fire Brigade should also conduct regular fire inspections and fire drills with involvement of teachers, students and community.

"A curriculum review should be put in place to incorporate guidance and counselling and fire safety. The County Director(s) of education should inform relevant stakeholders in the review process so as to come up with the informed curriculum," read the report.

Apart from NDMU, Kisii County Disaster Management Committee, and the County Commissioner; other organizations present were Kenya National Union of Teachers, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, religious leaders, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association, National Police Service and area community leaders.

"As much as these recommendations have already been adopted by Kisii County (as the most affected county), we hope the rest will follow suit with enough sensitization. It is just a matter of being responsible citizens," said Masai.

In the report, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) came under fire and asked to come up with more appropriate mechanisms of promoting teachers.

This is as the report documented 'poor promotion criteria' on appointment of school heads as a major reason for school fires as well as leadership wrangles in schools among student leaders, deputy head teachers, principal heads and Board of Management (BoM) which was worsened by political interference.

As one of the intervention by the commission to handle school fires, TSC had sent home school principals of Itiero Boys and Nyamache a move that has received bashing from Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori who demanded their reinstatement terming it as an 'impunity’ against teachers as they were not 'school watchmen.'

Others reasons documented were parental irresponsibility, students not involved in formulating new school laws, tough examination rules, cult or demonic behaviours and illegal drugs which the National Campaign against Drugs Abuse Authority (NACADA) was called into action.

"NACADA and County Enforcement Directorate should come up with a programme to sensitize schools on drug abuse and also come up with a way to identify addicts so that appropriate legal action is taken," read the report.

The report noted that NACADA should ensure the rule on proximity distance of clubs from schools should be revisited and enforced.

"There should be a review of the current legislation to include serious penalties to criminality involving people under 18 years of age so that crimes such as arson can be deterred," added the report.

On Tuesday police are said to have summoned some 100 students with 45 of them being arraigned in court over the cases of school fires.

In a dramatic scenario that started in Kisii County almost a month (when some seven dormitories went up in flames at Itierio Boys) and became even worse when Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i visited the area, the wave had evenly spread across the country to counties of Nakuru, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Embu, Murang'a, Bungoma, Homa Bay and Trans Nzoia among others.

So far some 6,000 students are idling at their homes from 68 schools which have fallen victims in a span of just less than two months. Kisii and Nyamira counties, carry the bulk (3,000 students) after about 18 schools being closed down.

Consequently, property worth Sh200 million (in Kisii and Nyamira Counties) has been destroyed with parents being expected to bear the cost.

During his grilling by the Senate's Education Committee, Education CS Matiang'i had cited leadership wrangles between principals and their deputies as a contributing factor.

He had accused head teachers of not putting in place adequate and competent frameworks what should govern school engagement which should in turn avert such radical resolutions by students.