State starts initiative to curb fires in schools

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo. [File, Standard]

The government has begun an assessment of boarding schools to curb cases of fires that jeopardise learning in the institutions.

Parents have incurred huge losses in school fires since the third term began. One of the incidents was the fire which claimed the lives of 21 lives while several others were injured at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County.

After the Endarsha incident, fire incidents have been on the rise in the country.

Students and the school community have continued to incur huge losses due the fires.

In an effort to put proper security measures in place to prevent the fire incidents, the government has commenced an assessment in boarding schools.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the assessment is headed by the National Government Administration (NGAO) officials in collaboration with the Ministry of Education officials in each county.

The exercise involves assessing the state of boarding facilities and factors which may lead to fire.

Speaking when he visited Nyandiwa Mixed Secondary School in Kasipul Constituency after a prayer service at Nyandiwa SDA Church, Omollo said the assessment will help the government to put effective measures for saving schools from fires.

Dr Omollo who was accompanied by Lake Basin Development Authority Director Dave Kalo, Lake Victoria South Water Works Development Agency Odoyo Owidi and other leaders, said the government is committed to ensuring students acquire quality education without impediments.

"My state department is leading in co-ordinating the exercise to assess the state of school facilities, especially in boarding schools. We are collaborating with the Ministry of Education officials. The report obtained will enable us to implement effective measures for eradicating fire incidences," Dr Omollo said.

The PS said the government had prioritised education by allocating Sh600 billion for learning in the country.

"There are still challenges in schools despite the budgetary allocation in terms of infrastructure and indiscipline of students in third term. But I am going to share the information I have acquired with my counterpart for Basic Education Belio Kipsang in an effort to address them," Omollo said.

During the visit, the PS and the Kenya Medical Training College Chief Executive Officer Kelly Oluoch motivated students with motivational speeches.

"We have also talked to the students about other opportunities available so that those who don't get university grades can join KMTC and other colleges for higher education," Dr Omollo said.