News Screen – A wave of fires in Kenyan schools is back in the spotlight after nearly 50 incidents occurred so far this year, killing at least 16 schoolgirls and forcing more than 100 schools to temporarily close.
The series of incidents has raised widespread concerns about the condition of the country’s education system, which is seen as facing severe pressure due to budget constraints, overcrowded dormitory facilities and weak safety standards.
One of the deadliest tragedies occurred on May 28 when 16 female students died in a fire at the Utumishi Girls Academy dormitory in Nakuru County. A number of other students are currently still under investigation regarding the incident.
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Witness testimony stated that several female students had tried to save themselves after the dormitory door was allegedly locked from the outside, which was contrary to fire safety procedures.
Observers assess that the phenomenon of fires in schools is not a single event, but rather an accumulation of structural problems in the Kenyan education system. The boarding school model, which is still dominant, is said to be a risk factor, because students live far from their parents in conditions that are often inadequate.
Psychologists assess that some teenagers are under high social and academic pressure. This condition is exacerbated by the lack of job opportunities in Kenya, which means education is often seen as inconsistent with students’ future hopes.
On the other hand, allegations of weak governance are also a concern. A number of parties mentioned funding problems, overcrowding of students in dormitories, and allegations of budget misuse in several schools which worsened infrastructure conditions.
A school principal who did not want to be named revealed that limited funds and administrative pressure often forced schools to ignore security standards. According to him, this condition has an impact on student safety in the dormitory environment.
In addition, fire safety standards in many schools are reported to be far from adequate. Some buildings have limited evacuation routes, barred windows, and suboptimal exit access in emergency situations.
The local architects’ association notes that thousands of schools are in poor infrastructure condition, but repairs are expected to take a long time and cost a lot of money.
The Kenyan government itself stated that it would conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the boarding school system and the factors that caused the fire. However, this policy is considered not to provide a quick solution to recurring risks.
This tragedy once again highlights the weakness of monitoring systems and emergency preparedness in educational institutions. Observers assess that without comprehensive reform, the risk of fires in schools still has the potential to occur again and threaten student safety in the future.***
