240 students escape death as fire guts their temporary dormitories

Three students were injured and property of over 15 million destroyed when fire broke out Saturday night at Ainabkoi Secondary School in Uasin Gishu County.
The fire which is suspected to have been caused by an electric fault started at 8.30 pm when students were doing their preps destroyed four temporary dormitories, two classrooms and a fully equipped laboratory.
School Principal James Angase told Kenya News Agency (KNA) that all the 240 students lost their belongings as efforts by students, teachers and members of the public to put off the raging fire were thwarted by shortage of water in the school.
However, it was finally contained three hours later by the fire fighters from Eldoret Town over 60 Km away .
Confirming the incident Eldoret Sub County Police boss Richard Omanga said three students sustained minor injuries while escaping from the inferno.
Omanga said the police have launched investigations to establish the cause of the fire that forced the high school students seek shelter at the local Reformed Church of East Africa.
The school Principal said the Kenya Red Cross Sunday distributed blankets, a packet of water and a bar soap to each student and appealed to more well-wishers to assist the school and the students.
Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno, area MP William Chepkut, Chemelil Sugar Chairman Zedekiah Bundotich were among top dignitaries who visited the school to assess the damage caused by the inferno.
By Robinson Rono