Seven students in police custody as first fire incident is reported at a National school

A section of parents recover property from a dormitory razed down by unknown arsonists at St Patrick’s Boys High School on Tuesday night in Iten Elgeyo Marakwet County. No student was injured during the incident. (PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG/ STANDARD)

ITEN: One dormitory was burnt to ashes at St Patrick's School, Iten Tuesday night as arson attacks in the country targeting schools continue to rise.

In the 7pm inferno, the dormitory christened 'Dorm 10' housing 88 students was razed down to ashes. Luckily, nobody was hurt in the incident.

St Patrick's becomes the first national school to be set ablaze since the series of arson incidents began in schools across the country.

By the time fire fighters from the Uasin Gishu County in Eldoret arrived at the school, the fire had completely consumed property worth millions and nothing was salvaged.

So far seven students in forms three and four have been arrested in connection with the incident as police continue with investigations.

The school principal Wilson Yego said the incident is a suspected arson attack, "Students from adjacent dorms allegedly saw somebody running away from the dormitory immediately the fire started with his head covered but he outran them when they gave chase."

He said the dormitory was donated to the school in 1985 and it the most favoured facility since it was fitted with cubicles. "It is so unfortunate that this has happened in our school. We least expected that it could happen," regretted the principal.

The Principal says he was from Nairobi to engage stakeholders on establishment of a new dormitory to cater for the increasing student population which currently stands at over 900.
Local leaders who rushed to the school condemned the incident with calls for immediate closure of all learning institutions in the country to avert more loses.

County Commissioner Fredrick Ndambuki said that the administration have taken over security of the school until normalcy returns promising thorough investigations to reveal the culprits. He added surveillance across the county has been heightened to avert such incidents.

"I want to promise the entire school administration and the community that we are going to do thorough investigations and make our findings public," said the administrator.

County Director of Education Ms. Sabina Aroni said preliminary investigations showed it is an arson attack, saying St Patrick's Iten is the second school in the region after St Augustine Emsea to lose infrastructure from fire.

Area Governor Alex Tolgos said the incident is unfortunate to happen to a national school that has consistently performed excellently.

The governor, who is also an old boy of the school, said his government will offer necessary support to ensure learning continues uninterrupted.

Elgeyo Marakwet County Assembly Speaker Albert Kochei petitioned Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to order the closure of all schools.

"I am asking the Education CS to close all schools so that these temperatures can go down because recently [we have heard of several fires in schools] and the situation seems to be getting out of hand," said Mr Kochei.

Residents challenged Elgeiyo Marakwet County to purchase at least one fire engine to handle such emergencies, saying the delayed arrival of a fire brigade team from Uasin Gishu made it impossible to salvage any property.