The Ministry of Education has directed school principals to close the institutions for mid-term from November 19, 2021 to November 23, 2021 following rampant cases of unrest.
“As you are aware, the Ministry of Education issued school term dates vide Circular Ref No. MOE/CONF/G5 dated 3rd December, 2020. It has been decided that the half term break will commence on Friday, 19th November, 2021. The students will report back on Tuesday 23rd November, 2021,” reads a notice by Education Principal Secretary Julius Jwan.
The government directive comes after rampant cases of unrest including Wote where two pupils from Makueni Mixed Day and Boarding Primary School sustained minor injuries, Sunday, after fire burnt a 40 bed capacity dormitory .
The 13.30 pm incident occurred when an electric fault caused fire, destroying the four dormitory cubical, bedding and pupils’ possessions of unknown amount.
“During the incident, two pupils inhaled the smoke and sustained minor cuts in the middle fingers and thumbs respectively after a fire caused by an electric fault occurred and were rushed to Rapha Hospital where they were treated and discharged in fair condition,”said Makueni County Police Commander, Joseph Ole Naipeyan, while confirming the incident.
The incident was reported by the teacher on duty to the police and fire brigade after noticing smoke from the dormitory, who responded quickly and managed to put off the fire.
The County Police Boss added that the School Administration accounted for all the 200 pupils who were in the school at the time of the incident.
Cosmas Maweu, the School Director said the students are safe and his Administration was looking for an alternative accommodation in the school for the affected pupils.
On November 1, 2021, 59 students from the Buru Buru Girls were admitted for smoke inhalation at the Metropolitan Hospital in Nairobi after a fire broke out in one of the dorms at around 5pm on Sunday.
According to information on the hospital twitter handle, thirty others were also treated at the same facility and discharged.
Buru Buru Police Chief Francis Kamau who confirmed the incident said the students who were rushed to the hospital complained of breathing difficulties.
Videos of the Kingdom Dormitory which was fire were shared online showing several students in uniform jumping off the burning building.
According to the students, the fire started during entertainment time at around 4:30 pm. Some students were said to be asleep while others were within the compound.
Kenya Redcross after the incident through their Twitter handle said that they were currently conducting psychosocial support to the affected students.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established. No casualty has been reported.
Elsewhere, a dorm in Chavakali Boys’ Secondary School also went ablaze on Sunday at around 6 PM.
In a video, the school’s dormitories are seen being razed down with students running for their safety.
