St. Joseph boys, girls’ schools closed down

Both St. Joseph’s boys and Girls high schools in Trans Nzoia County have been closed indefinitely after each of them had a dormitory reduced to ashes..
Trans Nzoia County commissioner Jim Njoka ruled out the possibility of electric fault and asked local DCI’s office to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring perpetrators to book.
“We are ruling out the possibility of electric fault, we suspect arson and want those behind the criminal act to be held responsible,” he told the press at the school after he led education officials in sending away students
He added,” today we have closed down the schools and we have instructed the boards to meet and find the cause of the problem at the schools.”
The first fire incident was reported at St. Joseph Girls at around 8.00 pm when the students were in for preps and luckily it was put off by fire engines from the county government and Khetia drapers before it spread to other buildings.
Shortly after, another fire broke out at the Boys school which was however not managed as the engines had run out of water.
St. Joseph Girls Principal Mrs. Rosebella Muzala Orwaru said she heard screams from the students and when she came out of her house she found the dormitory on fire.
“I heard noise and screams from the students and when I came out I found the dormitory on fire. It has displaced over 112 students,’’ said the principal.
Forty one students who assisted in quelling the fire were choked by smoke and fainted following which they were rushed to hospital, treated and discharged.
At the boy’s School, Principal Wilson Yego told the press that the students were also attending evening preps when the fire started.
“What has happened is not an electric fault. This is an action by some students and nobody is going to be spared if found to have had a hand in the arson,’’ Yego warned.
Earlier students from both institutions had jointly celebrated St Joseph day before the dormitories were set ablaze. The schools are separated by a fence.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that some male students protested that they had not been given enough time to interact with the girls during the event.
By Pauline Ikanda