By Norah Musega
Koderobara High School in Rongo, Migori County has been closed indefinitely after a 300-capacity makeshift dormitory was burnt down.
The fire, which broke out at 7:30pm, destroyed beddings and students’ personal effects before it was put out by fire fighters from the Migori county government.
The makeshift dormitory was recently constructed after a 350 dormitory which was under construction was brought down by a heavy storm in October 2019.
Parents who had flocked the school to inquire about the safety of their children were allowed to take them home.
The parents had raised concern about congestion in boarding facilities, a situation which they said exposed the learners to Covid-19.
“We are very disappointed that the boarding facilities are not what we expect of such a big school,” said a parent who did not want to be named.
The parents also alleged that despite the Ministry of Education sending infrastructure funds to schools, the institutions’ administration had done little to put up more structures to enhance social distancing among students.
Board of Management chair Dorothy Omollo urged parents to exercise patience, saying the Ministry of Education had approved construction of 12 new classrooms.
More than 15 schools across the country have reported fire incidents and students riots since learning resumed in January.
Two of the schools are in Migori County, with the latest being Moi Boys High school in Nyatike where another dormitory went up in smoke, two weeks after the first.
The cause of fire in the two institutions has, however, not been established. Investigations are ongoing.
