In the wake of the rising cases of schools fires that have disrupted learning activities in many institutions, police have intensified investigations over the origin of petroleum fuels being used as catalysts to burn down the education centers.
Police officers in Murang'a on Saturday, November 6, arrested five people suspected of colluding with students who allegedly torched Igikiro Boys Secondary School.
The five included boda boda operators from Murang'a and a fuel station attendant. Murang'a South Sub County police boss, Alexander Shikondi, affirmed that detectives were grilling the five on their possible involvement in the burning down of the school.
According to Shikondi, the rider of a motorcycle that was spotted near the school with a jerrycan believed to have contained petrol, is being treated as a key suspect in the matter.
Two other suspects allegedly received money from some students to help in procuring the petrol and together with the motorcycle rider bought and transported the fuel to the school.
"We now want to connect the suspects to the criminal plot. We suspect they contemplated and planned to execute arson," the Murang'a South Sub County police boss stated.
An initial probe by police found that a boda boda rider was seen buying five litres of petrol and later passing it over the fence to some students, moments before a dormitory went up in flames.
Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha, has warned that the government would not take responsibility for the loss incurred by schools following the recent spike in fire incidences.
The CS stated that the government would not contribute towards rebuilding dormitories burnt by students. This means that the school administration and the parents will be forced to meet the expenses of reconstructing such facilities.
In the term that began in October, more than 31 schools have been burnt down so far.
But headteachers started pointing accusing fingers at the Education CS over the surge in the incidences of unrest in schools.
Led by Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) Chairperson, Indimuli Kahi, the teachers maintained that the Ministry of Education (MoE) failed in its oversight role which could have helped in averting the causes of unrest.
Kahi noted that before the schools were given a nod to reopen, teachers had proposed a raft of measures but failed to factor in the half-term breaks which have contributed to the spike.
He also noted that the Ministry of Education imposed a tight calendar on students which might have overburdened them leading to unrest in the learning institutions.
