The country has experienced 107 school fire incidents and 239 cases of unrest since January 2024, according to Education Cabinet Secretary Julias Ogamba. Speaking before MPs in the education committee, Ogamba noted that of the 107 fire incidents, 36 occurred this term, primarily targeting dormitories.
“Since January 2024 to 16th September 2024, there have been 107 fire incidents in our schools, with 36 of these occurring in this third term. The fires have mainly targeted dormitories. The total number of schools affected by unrest since the beginning of 2024 stands at 239,” he stated.
In response to these incidents, the ministry has initiated an audit of all boarding schools to assess their compliance with safety standards and regulations. The audit aims to identify non-compliance issues, pinpoint areas where oversight has failed, and recommend necessary actions for both the schools and the responsible officers.
Ogamba explained that the unrest can be attributed to various factors, including strained relationships and poor communication between school administrators and students, peer pressure, local community interference, examination anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, and general indiscipline.
To address the criminal aspects of these incidents, the ministry is collaborating with the criminal justice system to ensure appropriate penalties for those involved in property destruction and arson.
“Each incident is investigated and dealt with according to the attendant circumstances. However, generally, we have adopted a multi-stakeholder approach, involving local leadership and the surrounding community to address these challenges through guidance and counseling, amicable dispute resolution, and strengthening disciplinary action,” he explained.
Ogamba also revealed that the ministry is conducting internal investigations into the fire incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 21 learners, to assess the school’s compliance with safety standards. He stated, “We have formed a committee to take appropriate action if this internal self-assessment reveals a failure on the part of our officers.”
