Another fire has been reported at Ortum Boys High School, adding to the list of schools that have burned in the past week.
According to preliminary reports, one of the dormitories at Ortum Boys High School in West Pokot was set on fire early Monday, September 9, morning.
Videos seen by The Kenya Times show the students rushing to the dorm to salvage property including mattresses and boxes.
The students rushed out of the compound to a secure location, as a huge smoke engulfed the area.
However, the administration has yet to communicate the cause of the fire and the extent of the destruction of property.
At the same time, reports have surfaced of another school dormitory being set ablaze. Videos have circulated showing a dormitory in Bukhalalire Secondary School located in Busia County, on fire.
Also Read: Red Flags that Fueled Fire at Hillside Endarasha Dormitory
Earlier Reports of School on Fire
In a separate incident, a fire broke out at Njia Boys High School in Meru County on Sunday, September 8, 2024, destroying a dormitory and property of unknown value.
According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred while students were having supper. No casualties or injuries were reported.
The fire swept through Jamhuri Dormitory, home to around 150 students, completely destroying the building and everything inside.
These incidents have put the Ministry of education under scrutiny as stakeholders now point out red flags in boarding schools that fuel fires.
Also Read: Hillside Endarasha: How a 12-Year-Old Boy Saved His Two Friends from Deadly Fire
Auditor General’s Report
An earlier report on Schools Safety Audit by the Auditor General revealed that boarding schools across the country are death traps.
According to the report written after a survey of 42 sampled schools, most institutions are not compliant, and doorways in dorms are less than the recommended sizes
“There is inadequate infrastructure, limited training on fire safety preparedness, insufficient guidance and counseling in schools,” read the report in part.
Further, the Auditor General noted that the majority of schools do not have the equipment to handle a fire incident and did not have mandatory evacuation maps at every entry.
“Schools are required to have sufficient fire extinguishers, fire alarms, and fire blankets. All 42 sampled schools did not have evacuation maps.
“Majority of sampled schools allocated least fire extinguishers to halls and there were no fire assembly points in some schools,” added the report.
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