Tengecha Boys Closed as 571 Students Affected by Dormitory Fire
The decision was reached on Monday, October 5, after the school’s Board of Management held an emergency meeting to assess the situation.
571 Grade 10 Students Affected
Kericho County Education Director Julius Ngoneshi said most of the damaged facilities were being used by Grade 10 students.
Ngoneshi said the temporary closure would give school management time to determine the repairs and other measures required before learning can resume.
No date has been given for the students to return to the institution.
Community Helped Contain Fire
The fire broke out on Sunday evening, October 4, after flames were reported on the upper floor of a dormitory.
Students, members of staff and residents from the surrounding community joined the emergency response as the fire threatened to spread to other parts of the school.
The blaze was eventually contained, but the affected floor suffered significant damage, including destruction of windows and other infrastructure.
No injuries or deaths were reported, with students accounted for after the incident.
DCI Investigates Cause
The cause of the fire had not been established by Monday, while investigations were launched to determine what triggered the incident.
No arrests had been reported as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations continued examining the circumstances surrounding the blaze.
The incident comes amid heightened government attention on school fires and student unrest following several cases involving destruction of school property.
Under measures announced by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, students or other individuals found responsible for arson may face criminal charges.
Parents may also be required to meet the cost of repairing or rebuilding infrastructure destroyed during student unrest, while school boards that fail to enforce safety regulations could face sanctions.
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