Ministry orders swift, thorough probe into Kisumu Boys School fire
The Ministry of Education has ordered speedy and extensive investigations to unearth the cause of a fire that razed down three dormitories and four classrooms at Kisumu Boys High School.
Property of unknown value was destroyed in the Saturday morning inferno, which has displaced 250 students.
The fire started from one of the dormitories when the students were in class and quickly spread to the entwined classrooms and adjacent dormitories. Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan (pictured) said various State agencies have been deployed to establish the cause of the fire.
The PS said the teams would also 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 devise the way forward on fixing the destroyed infrastructure.
“Ministry will only come in after we have established the cause of the fire. 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 cannot allocate funds to rebuild the infrastructure if, for instance, it is found that the fire was started by students,” he added.
School management, he said, has resolved not to send the students back home, adding that the Kenya Red Cross has offered to deliver 20 tents to help manage the situation.
Ten of the tents, said the PS, 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 bedding for the affected students,” he said.
He asked parents to remain calm, saying the school will communicate the way forward.
