Matiang’i makes Drastic Move after Moi Girls Fire

mary kulundu

September 9, 2017 7:49 AM

Schools are now in panic mode

Primary and Secondary schools across the country are set for tough times ahead following the fire at Moi Girls School, Nairobi, which killed nine students.

Emerging reports now indicate that Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i will be raiding boarding schools to check whether the institutions have complied with the safety guidelines.

According to a report by the Standard, the ministry has designated field officers, who will make the unexpected visits to check the level of compliance in schools.

This has caused panic among school heads and principals who requested that the major crackdown not be a fault-finding mission.

They pleaded to be allowed time to make proper reports to Boards of Management.

Commenting on the matter, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman, Kahi Indimuli, stated: “The inspection is good. However, the exercise should be an ongoing process because the safety standards go beyond dormitory specifications”.

“We hope it will not be a fault-finding mission. Principals should be allowed to take audit and table reports to the boards because there are financial implications to compliance,” he added.

A source at the ministry told the local paper that most schools had not complied with the guidelines and institutions found culpable will be held responsible.

“School boards will be put to task to explain why they have overseen flouting of the safety guidelines,” the local paper quoted the official as saying.

According to the 2008 School Standard Safety Manual dormitories should have emergencies doors, adequate space among others.

This will not be the first time the no-nonsense CS makes impromptu visits.

Last year, Matiang'i launched a major crackdown in schools to find out the conditions students were living in and some principals were put on the spot over the dilapidated state at the institutions.

mary kulundu