Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi Bans Firefighters From Responding to School Fires

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi on Wednesday banned firefighters in the county from responding to school fires following a spate of incidences where high school students have been arrested in relation with the incidences.

Addressing education stakeholders in Meru town, the governor noted that the fire tragedies were preventable and as such the emergency teams would not be dispatched to handle them.

He stated that he was saddened by the recent cases of arson by students; "We are pained when we see them go up in smoke because these are school facilities for which we have contributed from our meagre provisions."

Kiraitu faulted school administrations stating that the fire incidences exposed that there was a gap in the school structures.

[caption caption="The Standard"][/caption]

He advised principals to stay on top of things by collecting intelligence and preventing arsonists before they strike.

The county head expressed his support to Education CS Amina Mohamed's sentiments that parents would pay for repairs after damage caused by students.

He also called for schools to get fire insurance stating; "If schools suffer the vagaries of fires and needed to replace their facilities, we shall only help if they show us evidence of insurance cover."

10 institutions have been affected in Meru county by fire tragedies - luckily no casualties have been reported.

Meru County Commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga disclosed that 20 secondary school students had been arraigned in court for the arson incidences witnessed in various schools in the area. 

"These fires are really unfortunate because at the Thuura Secondary School, for example, all the dormitories were razed down and that institution is likely to be converted into a day school from its current status," Nyagwanga conveyed.

[caption caption="A dormitory fire at Kisii High School on 10/7/2018"][/caption]

 

 

 

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