A fire outbreak has destroyed a dormitory at Sameta Boys High School in Sameta Sub-county, Kisii County, in an incident that has raised fresh concerns over student unrest in schools.
The blaze, whose cause is yet to be established, razed down one of the dormitories, leaving significant property losses.
Six students sustained minor injuries during the incident, reportedly as they scrambled to salvage their belongings from the burning structure.
The injured students were rushed to a nearby hospital in Ogembo, where they were treated and later discharged.
Addressing students after the incident, Sameta Sub-county Director of Education Christine Ongwae strongly regretted the incident, terming it unfortunate; however, she warned against destructive behavior in schools.
She linked the incident to similar past tragedies, including the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls High School.
“It is unfortunate that we continue to witness such incidents in our institutions. We have seen what happened in Utumishi Girls, where lives were lost. We must not allow such situations to reoccur,” Ongwae said.
She urged students to adopt proper communication channels within the school environment to address their grievances.
“I encourage you to always use the available communication channels, including speaking to teachers you are comfortable with or using suggestion boxes, to air your concerns instead of resorting to destruction,” she added.
Ongwae further issued a stern warning, stating that acts of arson in schools amount to serious offenses.
“Setting school infrastructure ablaze is equivalent to treason. Anyone found culpable or involved in any way will face severe disciplinary and legal action,” she warned.
Sameta Deputy County Commissioner, Angella Wanyama, also condemned the incident, calling on students to cooperate with authorities during investigations.
“We urge students to provide any information that may help us understand the root cause of this incident. Officers from various departments will work together to ensure thorough investigations are conducted and measures are put in place to prevent a recurrence,” Wanyama said.
Following the incident, students have been sent home indefinitely as authorities and the school management work on recovery plans and investigations, with a recall expected once the situation stabilizes.
The incident adds to a growing list of school fire cases in the country, prompting renewed calls for vigilance, improved communication, and strengthened safety measures in learning institutions.
By Misheba Alfred
