PS calls for speedy probe into Kisumu Boys fire tragedy

Fredrick Odiero

The Ministry of Education has paved way for a probe to unearth the cause of a fire that razed down three dormitories and four classrooms at Kisumu Boys High School in the morning of Saturday 20th August.

Property worth millions was destroyed in the morning inferno which displaced 250 students.

The fire started from one of the dormitories while students were in class and quickly spread to the neighbouring classrooms and adjacent dormitories.

Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Jwan said state agencies had been deployed to establish the cause of the fire.

The PS said the teams will come up with a detailed report on the extent of damage as various stakeholders move in to partner with the school to restore normalcy.

Speaking at the school on Saturday, the PS said the report will assist the ministry come up with a way forward on fixing the destroyed infrastructure.

“The ministry will only come in after we have established the cause of the fire. The Kenya Power and Ministry of Housing teams have asked for time to conclude the investigations,” he said.

“I have said this before that the government shall not allocate funds to rebuild the burnt infrastructure if it is found that the fire was started by students,” he added.

All the 1,652 out of 2,300 students who reported back to the school on Friday after the half term break were safe.

The school management resolved not to send the students back home as the Kenya Red Cross has offered to deliver twenty tents to accommodate affected students.

Ten of the tents, he said, would be used as classrooms while the others shall be converted into temporary dormitories.

“The school has liaised with their contractors and suppliers who have promised to donate mattresses and beddings for the affected students,” he said.

He asked parents to remain calm adding that the school will communicate to them on the way forward.