Government starts nationwide safety inspection in schools following multiple fires

The government has initiated a compulsory nationwide inspection of all public and private schools in response to recent fire tragedies.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced on Wednesday that the first phase of the inspection, which started this week, will cover all boarding primary and junior schools in the country, while the second phase of the inspection exercise will cover secondary schools.

The inspection, according to Ogamba, will involve officials from the Ministries of Education, Interior and National Administration, Health and Department of Public Works.

He noted that it will also involve officers from the County Governments and the Kenya Red Cross.

Ogamba emphasised that the inspection will provide an opportunity for the government to unearth reasons behind the recent spate of school fires that have been reported in a few schools in the country.

“It has, therefore, become necessary for the Ministry of Education, jointly with relevant agencies, to conduct an urgent countrywide inspection of all public and private basic learning institutions to assess their levels of compliance with the guidelines of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya,” he said.

“This will enable us to make appropriate recommendations to remedy the situation, in cases where there are fresh interventions required that are a departure from the indiscipline cases reported in the previous years.”

He warned that firm and decisive action will be taken against Ministry of Education officials, school administrators and managers found to have flouted the guidelines stipulated in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya, in accordance with the Basic Education Act, 2013.

While most schools have complied with the Safety Standards Manual, Ogamba acknowledged that a few have failed to meet the requirements, leading to tragic accidents.

“These regrettable incidents have cost innocent lives, caused injuries, and led to the destruction of property," he said.

One of the most devastating incidents occurred at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County, where a dormitory fire claimed the lives of 21 students.

The government said 19 bodies were found in the dormitory, while two more boys succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment in the hospital.

The identities of the 19 students who perished in the fire remain unknown, and DNA tests are currently underway to identify them.

Other fire incidents have been reported at Isiolo Boys High School and Isiolo Girls High School, though no casualties occurred in these cases. Fires were also reported at Bukhalalire Secondary School in Busia County and Ortum Boys High School in West Pokot County.

As the Ministry continues its inspections, schools have been urged to intensify preparations for the upcoming national exams, including the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment, Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment, and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, which are scheduled for the end of the third term.

“We want to reassure the country that the Ministry will continue supporting schools to remain safe and conducive environments for quality learning,” Ogamba said.