Some 124 students arrested so far after orgy of violence

 

Arson and foiled plots to destroy schools across the country continued over the weekend as more than 240 students of Kipkabus Boys High School in Uasin Gishu County slept in their classrooms after two dormitories were set ablaze on Friday night.

The number of students arrested for plotting to burn schools around the country increased from 100 to 124 after two dozen were arrested in Nairobi, Coast and Western regions. 

Nine were nabbed at Sendera Secondary School in Mt Elgon, Western Kenya, eight at Sunshine Secondary School in Nairobi and nine at Kitobo Secondary School in Taita Taveta County.

Two dormitories were also burned at Kyoome Boys in Kitui County on Wednesday night but no arrests were made.

The latest incidents occurred as police in Kisii revealed that teachers’ commitment in stopping the on-going school fires should be questioned. Police officers who requested anonymity because investigations are underway told the gathering that some schools had several security lapses, making it difficult to trace culprits. Some security guards, they said were also involved in the arson schemes and protected the culprits.

They law enforcers said some fires were meticulously planned by students who even had time to evacuate their sick and disabled colleagues before torching the dormitories. Stakeholders attending a one-day Education meeting in Kisii on Wednesday also questioned how teachers fail to notice when students hold meetings and contribute money for buying petrol to execute the burning.

Kisii County Commissioner Kula Hache said nobody will be allowed to buy petrol using jerry cans without an identity card, a letter from the chief or sub-county administrator.

Members recently appointed to the school’s board of management, sponsors and parents gave the workshop a wide berth.

Sponsors came under attack for what has been termed as interfering with Ministry of Education polices. Guests who spoke in the meeting said a big rift is emerging between the government and sponsors.

Officials from the Ministry of Education and the County Commissioner, Kula Hache said that 29 schools had been set ablaze in the past five months, leading to a loss of over Sh200 million.

In all these incidents, seven arson cases were pending in court and 22 investigations were ongoing. 85 students have since been arrested. And the school burning craze appears to have hit the Rift Valley region hard, with a considerable increase of arson cases in that region.

Investigations show that attempts to thwart examination leakage and indiscipline, as well as the unfulfilled 50-60 collective bargain agreement with the Teachers Service Commission pay deal are some of the reasons given by education stakeholders towards increased student unrest across the country.

In the North Rift, more than 10 schools bear the brunt of the infernos as parents stare at huge funds that will be used in repairing the damaged buildings. Some of the burnt schools include, Chewoyet in West Pokot, Kilibwoni and Serem in Nandi, St Augustine Secondary School Emsea, Santa Maria Cheptulon girls in Elgeyo Marakwet and St Francis Suwerwa boys in Trans Nzoia. A number of schools are currently closed whilst security officials investigate what might have led students to conduct such unlawful acts.

Speculations are rife as to the causes of the arson attacks, with the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) officials saying Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is partly to blame.

“We are concerned about the CS’s random tours; it means that he visits a specific school with a mindset to bring out the wrongs, and this has not gone well with a number of school heads,” said Nandi Kuppet Executive Secretary Paul Rotich.

According to the Kipkabus School Board of Management Chairman Ben Samoei, the dormitories caught fire at about 8.30pm and efforts to contain it bore minimal fruit.

“The two dormitories that have been burnt used to accommodate 240 boys. Tangible evidence indicates that students set them on fire,” said Mr Samoei.

Samoei, who had convened an emergency meeting with parents, the security committee and other stakeholders said they suspect a number of students was suspended a week ago started the fire when their counterparts were in for their evening studies.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, who visited the school as it went down in flames condemned the incident and challenged parents to instill discipline in their children.

“The ministry has to tell us what is happening, even as parents take up their guidance role. We cannot allow students to lack morals as they continue to cause havoc to our institutions,” he said.

Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga condemned the incident and called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to deal with the arsonists irrespective of their age.

“We cannot allow a few undisciplined people to destroy government property; they need to be prosecuted and taken to approved schools,” said Mr Chepkonga.

The MP vindicated Matiang’i from the arson attacks, and said the CS and the Kenya National Examination Council should continue to pursue efforts towards eradicating examination cheating.

Police Officer Pius Masai from the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) told the meeting that issues of safety should be handled by county governments. After the Wednesday meeting, NDMU will prepare a report and make recommendations.