The management of Irene Girls High School in Samburu County is counting losses following a fire that destroyed a 100-bed capacity dormitory at the institution causing significant damage.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, members of the school administration revealed that the damage incurred is extensive and property of unknown value destroyed. No casualties were reported from the incident.
The cause of the inferno is still yet to be established while the extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Speaking to the press while picking up their children from the institution, parents voiced their concerns regarding the dormitories and classrooms architectural designs which they argued was a safety risk that should have been addressed prior.
The parents further questioned the practice of locking dormitory doors yet the building was housing over 100 students, highlighting the potential risks involved.
"The dorms should have two doors so that if the fire starts on one side they can exit through another," one parent said.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) from the Samburu West outpost were roped in to lead investigations into the cause of the fire.
The officers will probe every possibility including whether the blaze was an accident or premeditated.
The latest case of fire at a school is just one of the many cases reported in the recent past.
In July, a fire was started by some students of Kerugoya Boys High School at 8pm. Preliminary investigations concluded that this was most likely a case of arson.
In the same month, dormitories at two schools in Kirinyaga County — Kiamagutu Boys High School and St Mary's Kagio Boys High School —were burned down in separate fire incidents
Investigations into both cases also concluded that student unrest led to the fires.
