Students of Bishop Ndingi High School in Mwala Sub-County, Machakos County, have been sent home after a fire gutted one of the school’s dormitories early Tuesday morning.
Mwala Sub-County Director of Education, Stephen Kitungu, confirmed the incident, stating that the affected learners will resume their studies next term as investigations continue. The decision was reached during a stakeholders’ meeting convened at the school shortly after the incident was reported.
Kitungu revealed that the destroyed dormitory housed 150 students. With no alternative accommodation, the school had no choice but to release the students.
The fire reportedly broke out during the early morning prep session. Mattresses, beds, uniforms, and other personal belongings were completely destroyed in the blaze.
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Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been a deliberate act of arson. According to Kitungu, a few weeks earlier there had been an attempted arson attack on the same dormitory, which led to the suspension of several students.
“The dormitory caught fire shortly after the suspended students resumed school. It is evident this was not an electrical fault,” Kitungu said.
A full investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and to establish whether any students were involved.
By Agnes Orang’o
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