The Ministry of Education has announced plans to set up a multi-sectoral team for all the stakeholders in education that will collect views that will form the basis of strategies to address emerging challenges in the sector.
The move follows the deadly arson attack at Utumishi Girls school in Gilgil that claimed the lives of 16 students and over 70 others with injuries on the night of May 28
The wave of unrest since the fire incident has hit over 200 schools across the country with properties worth millions of shillings destroyed.
According to CS for Education Julius Migos Ogamba, the team which will roll into action within days will develop strategies that will form the foundations of policies and laws that will be developed and adopted to address the emerging challenges being faced.
Ogamba said the government would not condone the wave of unrest and runaway indiscipline cases facing tens of schools, noting that there was no justification for causing deaths and destruction as being witnessed.
Speaking during a tearful and solemn requiem mass for the 16 students and a parent who perished in an accident on her way to school, Ogamba said the unrest affecting schools requires a whole-of-society approach from children’s upbringing to parental and teachers’ responsibilities.
The CS said the unfortunate fire incident that consumed the lives of the 16 learners was deliberately planned and executed by nine learners and that legal and criminal action had been taken against them.
Already, the nine minors who are set to face murder and arson charges for executing the torching of the dormitory fire have been put in custody at the Nakuru Children Remand home till June 24, when the matter is set for mention at the Naivasha law courts.
“The tragic death that cut short the dreams of these students was unfortunately started by their fellow learners and we have taken legal and criminal action against them,” said Ogamba.
The CS who condoled with the affected families and tens of Kenyans who turned up at the memorial service urged students to use the right channels to air their grievances and concerns while calling on those tasked with responsibilities to up their ante.
This committee will be tasked with the responsibility of collecting views that will guide the best interventions needed, including adopted policies and laws in order to address challenges facing our schools, including mental illness, drug and substance abuse and financial distress facing families.
On her part, first lady Rachel Ruto, who joined the mourners, regretted that unfortunate incident that cut short the dreams of the young and precious girls at Utumishi girls.
The tearful Ms Ruto called for collective responsibility to protect, nurture and preserve the dignity of the children in schools, noting that they were the present and future leaders of the society.
Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika called for safer spaces in schools backed by regular inspections for necessary infrastructure, including tragedy containment measures.
While recalling the painful experiences consumed by the learners, Kihika regretted the increased wave of unrest and indiscipline that has so far affected 204 schools and over 4,000 students while calling for collective action to curb the menace.
Amidst a dark cloud of grief, broken hearts, tears and sorrows, the Governor called for a national conversation and shared responsibility in protecting children in schools.
Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja called for a national conversation including education stakeholders that will help restore normalcy in learning institutions.
Karanja urges the county to finance a disaster management docket with necessary infrastructure, including equipping all 11 Sub-Counties with fire engines for swift interventions such as the fire tragedy that hit the school.
“Nakuru County is the largest recipient of allocations from the national government worth billions of shillings annually and should establish fire engines in all 11 Sub-Counties for swift emergency responses.
Nakuru Women Representative Liz Chelule called for the installation of cameras in the boarding facilities in schools and fire containment measures in order to respond to the emerging wave of unrest and arson incidents.
Edward Mbugua, the founder of Utumishi girls, called for the abolishment of boarding facilities and the reintegration of girls and boys learning to address some of the challenges facing schools.
On his part, Grace Waceke, who represented the victims’ families, called for solid actions and accountability to ensure such unfortunate fire incidents that robbed young minds of their dreams and future inspirations do not happen again.
In unison, the leaders present called for a collective action and national conversation that will bring forth necessary interventions, including policy reforms to address the gaps being exploited by children in tens of schools.
By Erastus Gichohi
