Head teachers whose negligence leads to the deaths or injuries of students could face prosecution under a proposed new law. MPs have been petitioned to introduce legislation that would hold head teachers and school administrators accountable for failing to ensure the safety of learners.
John Wangai, a public litigation lawyer, and Anthony Manyara, president of the Kenya Universities Students Organisation, are advocating for the enactment of a comprehensive School Safety and Security Act. They propose that this law include stringent measures, such as substantial fines and the closure of schools that do not comply with safety regulations.
Among the proposed measures, the petitioners call for the prosecution of negligent school administrators. The recent surge in school fires has raised serious concerns about student safety. Last Thursday night, a fire at Nyeri’s Endarasha Hillside Academy resulted in the deaths of at least 21 children.
This tragedy adds to a troubling history of school fires that have claimed lives and caused significant property damage, including the 2001 fire at Kyanguli Secondary School, which killed 67 boys, and the 2022 fire at Kibra’s Moi Girls High School, which resulted in eight student deaths.
Other schools, such as St Kizito in Tigania, Mombasa’s Bombolulu Girls, Endarasha Boys Secondary, and Nyeri High School, have also experienced severe incidents.
In response to these ongoing issues, Wangai and Manyara propose that MPs ensure schools undergo mandatory annual fire safety audits conducted by certified professionals, with the results submitted to authorities. The proposed law would also require schools to be equipped with fire detection systems, alarm systems, fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and other essential safety equipment.
Additionally, the petition calls for schools to conduct regular fire drills and emergency preparedness exercises for students and staff at least twice a year to ensure awareness and readiness.
Under a proposed new law, head teachers whose negligence results in the deaths or injuries of students could face prosecution. MPs have been urged to enact legislation that would hold head teachers and school administrators accountable for failing to ensure student safety.
John Wangai, a public litigation lawyer, and Anthony Manyara, president of the Kenya Universities Students Organisation, are advocating for a comprehensive School Safety and Security Act. This proposed law would include strict penalties for non-compliance with safety regulations, such as fines and the closure of non-compliant schools.
The petitioners are pushing for measures that include the prosecution of negligent school administrators. The urgency for such legislation has been underscored by a series of school fires, including a recent tragedy at Nyeri’s Endarasha Hillside Academy, where a fire claimed the lives of at least 21 children.
This incident adds to a troubling history of school fires that have caused fatalities and significant property damage. Notable past tragedies include the 2001 fire at Kyanguli Secondary School, which killed 67 boys, and the 2022 fire at Kibra’s Moi Girls High School, which resulted in eight student deaths.
Other schools such as St Kizito in Tigania, Mombasa’s Bombolulu Girls, Endarasha Boys Secondary, and Nyeri High School have also experienced serious fire incidents.
To address these ongoing concerns, Wangai and Manyara propose that MPs mandate annual fire safety audits for schools, to be conducted by certified professionals with results submitted to the authorities. They also advocate for the law to require schools to be equipped with fire detection systems, alarm systems, fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and other essential safety equipment.
“Schools must conduct regular fire drills and emergency preparedness exercises for students and staff at least twice a year to ensure awareness and readiness,” the petition states.
Under a proposed new law, head teachers whose negligence leads to the deaths or injuries of students could face prosecution. MPs have been urged to pass legislation that would hold head teachers and school administrators accountable for failing to ensure student safety.
John Wangai, a public litigation lawyer, and Anthony Manyara, president of the Kenya Universities Students Organisation, are advocating for the creation of a comprehensive School Safety and Security Act. This proposed law would impose strict penalties for non-compliance with safety regulations, including fines and the closure of schools that do not adhere to these standards.
The petitioners are calling for measures that include prosecuting negligent school administrators. The need for such legislation has been highlighted by a series of school fires, such as the recent tragedy at Nyeri’s Endarasha Hillside Academy, where at least 21 children lost their lives. This incident adds to a disturbing history of school fires that have resulted in both fatalities and significant property damage.
Past tragedies include the 2001 fire at Kyanguli Secondary School, which killed 67 boys, and the 2022 fire at Kibra’s Moi Girls High School, which resulted in eight student deaths.
Other schools, including St Kizito in Tigania, Mombasa’s Bombolulu Girls, Endarasha Boys Secondary, and Nyeri High School, have also experienced severe fire incidents.
In response to these ongoing issues, Wangai and Manyara propose that MPs mandate annual fire safety audits for schools, conducted by certified professionals, with the results submitted to the authorities.
They also advocate for the law to require schools to be equipped with fire detection systems, alarm systems, fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and other essential safety equipment. “Schools must conduct regular fire drills and emergency preparedness exercises for students and staff at least twice a year to ensure awareness and readiness,” the petition states.
