Fresh inspections will be carried out in boarding schools across the country following the deadly dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County that claimed the lives of 16 students.
The Ministry of Education announced that education officials have been directed to conduct thorough assessments of boarding institutions to ensure they are complying with all safety requirements.
The exercise is expected to begin on Tuesday, June 2, and continue for the next 10 days.
Speaking during an Elimu Mashinani education event in Wajir County on Sunday, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the inspections will focus on student safety and determine whether schools are meeting the standards set by the government.
According to Bitok, officers have been instructed to carry out detailed inspections and provide recommendations on areas that require improvement. He emphasized that the government will not tolerate negligence that places learners at risk.
The Principal Secretary warned that strict action would be taken against school administrators, teachers, or institutions found to be violating safety regulations. He noted that anyone who deliberately ignores the established standards and endangers students’ lives will face serious consequences.
The directive comes at a time when concerns over safety in boarding schools have increased following several dormitory fire incidents reported in recent years.
The latest tragedy occurred at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil on May 28 when a dormitory caught fire, killing 16 students and leaving several others injured.
Questions have since been raised about conditions within the dormitory. Reports indicated that the building may have accommodated more students than its intended capacity, leading to overcrowding. Some learners were also reportedly sleeping in the hallway rather than in designated cubicles.
The Ministry of Education has long-established guidelines that schools are required to follow to ensure the safety and wellbeing of learners. Schools that fail to meet these standards risk closure and disciplinary action against their administrators.
While describing the Utumishi Girls incident as an isolated case, Bitok said the government was taking extra precautions to prevent similar tragedies from occurring elsewhere.
He revealed that he had previously met education officials, school principals, and directors of education and reminded them of the importance of observing safety regulations.
However, he noted that some administrators failed to follow the instructions. The upcoming inspections are expected to examine dormitory conditions, emergency exits, firefighting equipment, electrical systems, and other safety measures aimed at protecting students in boarding schools across the country.
