Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called for urgent installation of CCTV cameras in schools across the country following the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy.
Speaking in Kericho County during a thanksgiving ceremony at Kipsigis Girls’ High School on May 31, Murkomen urged school heads and boards of management to take proactive steps to strengthen safety measures and protect learners.
He said schools must comply with basic safety standards, including ensuring dormitories are not overcrowded and that proper emergency exits are in place.
“You must take proactive steps as principals and boards of management to ensure that our dormitories are not congested and that they have proper emergency exits,” he said.
Murkomen stressed that surveillance systems would play a key role in detecting and preventing security threats in schools.
He called for the installation of CCTV cameras in all learning institutions, saying they should cover critical areas such as dormitories, corridors and entry points.
“We need to ensure that all schools have properly installed CCTV cameras covering critical areas, as well as a central control room for effective monitoring and response,” he said.
The CS said the move would not only help deter criminal activity but also assist authorities in investigations whenever incidents occur.
CCTV Importance and Lessons from Utumishi tragedy
Murkomen’s remarks come in the wake of the tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, where several students lost their lives in a dormitory blaze.
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He said the government had drawn important lessons from the incident, particularly the need to act on early warning signs and information shared by students.
“One of the things we have learned from Utumishi Girls Academy is that information shared by students was, in some cases, taken for granted,” he said.
Safety failures have come under intense scrutiny after early investigations into the Utumishi Girls Academy fire revealed serious lapses.
Reports indicate emergency exits were allegedly locked, trapping students inside as the fire spread.
Overcrowding in the dormitory worsened the situation, limiting escape routes.
Some students were forced to jump from upper floors to survive, which, CS Murkomen stated, highlighted poor preparedness and a failure to enforce basic safety standards.
The CS noted that failure to take such warnings seriously contributed to the loss of lives, urging school administrators to create systems that encourage learners to speak up.
He further added that improving communication between teachers and students is important, saying that strong relationships could help identify risks before they escalate into disasters.
“I want to encourage teachers to build strong networks and relationships with students so that they can freely share feedback on what is happening in school,” he said.
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Murkomen maintained that addressing student concerns early could help prevent unrest, which has in the past been linked to cases of arson in schools.
Strengthening School Safety Systems
The Interior CS said the government is committed to ensuring that all schools adhere to safety regulations and are better prepared to handle emergencies.
He urged school managements to regularly assess their security preparedness and identify gaps that could expose learners to danger.
Murkomen also called for closer collaboration between school authorities, security agencies and local leaders to improve safety in learning institutions.
He reiterated that protecting learners must be treated as a top priority, adding that negligence or failure to follow safety protocols would not be tolerated.
The CS further urged boards of management to invest in infrastructure that supports safety, including fire-fighting equipment and evacuation systems.
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