By Erastus Mulwa
A school in Matungulu District has been closed for one week after fire razed down a dormitory killing one student on Tuesday night.
The fire is said to have started at around mid-night in one of the dormitories of Kinyui Boys High School, a few hours after students retreated from their evening studies.
Property worth millions of shillings was also consumed by the fierce fire, which police suspect was an arson attack.
Kangundo DCIO Wanderi Mwangi said a jerican of petrol was discovered within the school compound and police are pursuing leads to establish its source.
“We are treating this as an arson case following discovery of petrol within the compound, but police have already launched investigation on the matter,” Mwangi told journalists.
No arrests have been made so far in relation to the incident.
The school principal John Kyeva said the students had not shown any signs of unrest before the incident.
Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama and area DC Patrick Mwangi who arrived at the school yesterday morning to assess the situation blamed the incident on indiscipline among students.
Drug abuse
“This situation is unacceptable. Indiscipline in our schools has come to such intolerable levels leading to loss of lives and property,” said Muthama, adding that drug abuse has become rampant in many schools.
There have been widespread claims of drug trafficking in Matungulu District with most traffickers said to be targeting students and idlers at shopping centres.
It is also common for students to burn schools or protest once mock examinations begin.
Just last week, a girls school in Muranga’s County was closed after the students protested over the size of the uniform. The girls said they wanted to wear miniskirts.
