After deadly fire, voices are raised against lack of security in schools

2 min

With our correspondent in Nairobi, Albane Thirouard

At Kenyasixty-seven students were killed in thetheir dormitory burned down in 2001. Nine people lost their lives in 2016 in similar circumstances. This week’s disaster evokes ” bad memories ” said the attorney general’s office in a statement. Which emphasizes that “ the neglect and failure of officials to prioritize the safety of children in schools and ensure compliance with safety protocols “.

Failures already noted in recent years

In 2020, Kenya’s Auditor General already warned of a lack of preparedness for fire risks in some schools, after auditing around forty of them. The report cites, among other things, a lack of equipment and poorly adapted buildings, for example without emergency exits. One of the main teachers’ unions is now accusing the government of not doing enough to ensure that schools are compliant.

Safety rules ignored

According to the Kenya Commission on Gender and Equality, initial reports indicate that the dormitory that caught fire, which housed more than 150 boys, was ” overcrowded, in violation of safety regulations “A mother tells Agence France Presse her son’s story: ” Awakened by the smell of fire, some students banged on metal boxes to alert their classmates before breaking a window to escape ” Police have been tasked with investigating the circumstances of the fire. President William Ruto said Kenya would have to find out what caused the tragedy and bring those responsible to justice. He declared three days of national mourning starting Monday, September 9.

Another fire broke out at a girls’ high school in Isiolo, central Kenya, around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. It was brought under control, according to a police spokesperson, and no casualties were reported, but it further fueled anger and criticism over the lack of security in schools.

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