Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged school administrators to actively listen to their students.
Speaking at the inaugural graduation ceremony of Belgut Technical Training Institute in Belgut Sub-county, Kericho County, Murkomen said all schools should establish systems for receiving feedback from learners.
His remarks follow the devastating fire at Utumishi Girls Academy, which claimed 16 lives and left dozens of students injured.
“Schools must have safe ways of receiving anonymous information through suggestion boxes and other mechanisms,” said Murkomen.
Build stronger relationships
The CS emphasized that school administrations must build strong relationships with students to ensure they receive timely information and are able to prevent potential crises before they escalate.
He noted that creating trust between learners and school management is critical in promoting safety and addressing emerging concerns within institutions.
Security teams
Murkomen commended Nakuru County Commissioner Dr Loyford Kibaara and the county security team for their swift response and coordination during the emergency.
“I must say that, as the Ministry of Interior, I congratulate the County Commissioner, Dr Kibaara, of Nakuru and the county security team for their quick response and coordination with my Ministry to ensure that we did as much as we could to salvage the situation at that point in time,” said the CS.
He also commended the Ministry of Education for its response following the tragedy.
Investigations and safety concerns
Murkomen revealed that several students are under investigation in connection with the dormitory fire as detectives continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He further noted that preliminary findings had pointed to failures in compliance with some safety requirements.
“We know that one side of the dormitory, which was supposed to serve as an exit, was locked. That is where about 10 students died,” said Murkomen.
Administrative action expected
The CS affirmed that the Ministry of Education would take appropriate administrative action based on the findings of ongoing investigations.
He reiterated the need for schools to strengthen safety measures and maintain effective communication channels with learners to avert future tragedies.
READ ALSO: Makueni Assembly Clerk urges strict compliance with school safety standards
Caption: Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen speaks during the inaugural graduation ceremony of Belgut Technical Training Institute in Belgut Sub-county, Kericho County.
By Frank Mugwe
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