Asumbi Girls fire tragedy report awaits DPP’s action

By James Omoro

Parents of eight standard seven pupils who died in a dormitory fire at St Theresa’s Asumbi Girls Boarding Primary School will soon get to know what caused the fire.

The Government has finalised investigations into the tragedy that has since seen the sacking of two senior education officials and would soon make the findings public.

Homa Bay District Commissioner Nur Dube told the County Weekly the matter now lies in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko who is expected to give directions on the next course of action.

Tobiko will then decide whether people directly responsible for the fire would be prosecuted.

Dube confirmed that the investigations had been concluded and the file handed to Tobiko to give further directions on action to be taken against anybody suspected to have had a hand in the incident.

“The incident was traumatising and I am sure the Director of Public Prosecutions will give a directive that will lead to stern measures being taken against those who had been adversely mentioned in the report,” Dube said.

The investigations were led by Homa Bay District Criminal Investigations Officer Thomas Nyakundi in collaboration with other crime officers from the headquarters in Nairobi.

Some of the activities carried out during the enquiries were recording of statements by all the suspects and taking of samples from the scene of the incident.

It also involved carrying out DNA tests on the deceased at the Homa Bay District Hospital.

The incident has elicited many questions on who exactly is to blame among the various educational stakeholders in the highly reputable school.

Locals blamed the school administration for keeping the pupils in school during the holidays despite the fact that Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo had banned all forms of holiday tuition.

However, the school management through their spokesperson Margaret Aringo denied the allegations that the pupils were on holiday tuition saying that the learners were temporarily in school after a tour in Nairobi.

It emerged that the dormitories had been locked from outside making it impossible for the children to escape.

The bereaved parents wish to know who locked the door and why it was locked.

“It is explicit that there should be a matron who takes care of the children while in school. What Asumbi must tell us is where the matron was when the fire broke out and what deterred her from opening the door,” said Vincent Agong, a bereaved parent.

It is also alleged that the standard seven pupils met their untimely death in the dormitory at around 8pm while their standard eight and six counterparts were still studying in their classes.

A few days after the incident, Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo sacked Homa Bay County Director of Education Beatrice Asiago,  Homa Bay District Education Officer William Okumu and at the same time dissolved the shool board in connection with the unfortunate incident.

Mr Okumu has been replaced by Fred Osewe who started his duties a few weeks ago. County Director, Beatrice Asiago is still holding on to her office claiming that she has not yet received official communication from the ministry.