Kenya schools give students accused of torching property a wide berth

Renovation of a dormitory at Kirobon Boys which was burnt during a wave of arson in schools. Students charged with arson will not be allowed into some schools as the third term begins this week. (PHOTO: MERCY KAHENDA/ STANDARD)

Students charged with arson will not be allowed into some schools as the third term begins this week.

Some head teachers said the suspects must first be cleared by the courts. Candidates will be required to go home every day after writing their examinations.

Teachers from the affected schools explained that allowing the students to resume classes will set a bad precedence and encourage indiscipline.

Yesterday, Rongai Boys principal James Thiong’o said four students from the school will not be permitted to join others because they have a pending case in court.

Mr Thiong’o said the fate of the four-two Form Four and three Form Three students accused of burning the school dormitory on July 5 will be determined by the court.

“The school will not permit students suspected to be behind the fire back. The decision will be left to the court,” said Thiong’o.

He added the Form Four students will be allowed to write their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination but will have to return home every day.

“The two candidates will be reporting to school only to write their papers and then go back under the guidance of security officers,” he explained.

And the fate of the nine students from Itierio Boys High School charged with the burning of seven dormitories now lies with the Ministry of Education.

The principal Isaac Okeyo said he has not received communication from the Ministry of Education on whether to allow the students back to school. Form Four students resumed school last Wednesday and the rest of the students are expected today.

At Kirobon Boys, sources said 13 students charged with arson and whose case comes up for hearing in December will also be kept away from school.

Reports said the students have not been allowed back because the administration fears they might incite other students to cause more harm.

“The students have not been admitted, because during investigations, one of them confessed that he bought petrol that was used to raze the dormitory,” said the source.

About 120 schools across 15 counties were hit by the wave of arson that saw hundreds of students sent home last month.

After  Itierio High School was burnt, Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i directed that students from schools rocked by unrest be vetted to ensure troublemakers do not transfer to other schools.

He ordered that all students seeking transfers must obtain clearance letters from sub-county directors of education to ascertain that they did not participate in the destruction of their schools.

“I want to insist to all head teachers not to admit transferring students without a clearance letter from the sub-county director of education to confirm that your child has not been burning schools,” the CS directed.

The Standard also learnt that Itierio Boys High School has engaged the services of a private security firm to help improve security.

The principal said they had renovated all the burnt dormitories with the help of parents and well-wishers.

Each parent was forced to pay Sh10,000 and Deputy President William Ruto sent a donation of Sh1 million.

Mr Okeyo announced new measures to improve the school’s security and other new counselling process.

“Unlike before, we have now employed the services of a 24-hour security firm. Plans are under way to put up a security wall in the school,” said Okeyo who was promoted the deputy principal, Maseno School.

“All stakeholders have to change their attitude in order to curb the school fires. We need regular meetings and mentoring sessions with the learners. Learners need a friendly learning environment and counselling,” he observed.

Kirobon Boys is currently renovating the dormitory while students are being accommodated in the dining hall.

Each students was expected to pay Sh5,800 for the reconstruction.

 The dormitory was burnt in June while students were inn the classrooms. Nothing was salvaged during the fire.

The school has a population of 390 students.

Other schools that reported unrest in Nakuru include Shiners Boys, Rongai Boys, Kirobon Girls, Kiambara Girls and Michinda Boys.

At Rongai Boys, property worth Sh3.4 million was destroyed and 108 students left without a dormitory.

The school has converted a library and a multi-purpose hall into temporary dormitories as it awaits for communication from the insurance company.

The multi-purpose hall, the principal said, accommodates 72 while the library is accommodating 32 students.

“We have been forced to move books from the library to ensure students are accommodated. The school has not began any renovation because we are waiting for communication from an insurance company,” Thiong’o said.