Suna West Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Masara held a consultative forum with the Board of Management, teachers, and student leaders of Tom Mboya Ragana Girls Secondary School in Ragana Ward to address rising concerns over school fire incidents across the country.
The meeting, held on Monday June 8, 2026, comes in the wake of several fire outbreaks reported in schools across Nyanza and Western Kenya, which have destroyed dormitories and disrupted learning.
Tom Mboya Ragana Girls Secondary School, identified as a high-priority institution due to its large student population and aging dormitory infrastructure, was singled out for urgent preventive interventions.
During the engagement, MP Masara urged the Board of Management to immediately conduct a comprehensive safety audit in collaboration with Migori County Fire Services. He emphasized the need for functional fire extinguishers, clearly marked evacuation routes, and regular fire drills involving both students and staff.
He further cautioned that fire safety must be integrated into daily school operations, noting that preventative action should replace reactive responses following tragedies.
The Board of Management, however raised concerns over outdated electrical wiring and wooden dormitory structures, issues the MP pledged to prioritize under the next National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NGCDF) allocation cycle, with a focus on infrastructure upgrades aimed at reducing fire risks.
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Teachers and student leaders also pointed to unresolved grievances related to discipline, food quality, and academic pressure as key drivers of unrest in learning institutions.
In response, the lawmaker called for strengthened guidance and counseling services, as well as formalized channels through which student leaders can present concerns to school administration before they escalate.
He further underscored the importance of parental involvement, urging regular school forums to keep parents informed on rules, disciplinary processes, and student welfare matters to curb misinformation that often fuels tensions.
To enhance accountability and sustained follow-up, the school agreed to establish a joint safety committee comprising representatives from the Board of Management, teachers, students, and local administration. The committee will meet monthly to review safety compliance and report emerging risks to the constituency office.
Masara noted that the engagement forms part of a wider constituency initiative targeting all secondary schools in Suna West, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and county authorities to ensure that safety measures are properly funded and implemented.
He concluded by urging students to take personal responsibility for their safety and to promptly report any suspicious activities to school authorities.
By Enock Okong’o
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