Parents Obligated to Pay Sh6.7 Million for School Fire Damage

Parents of Mariakani Boys Secondary School in Kilifi County are now facing a hefty bill of Sh6.7 million to cover the losses incurred by the destruction of a 150-bed dormitory.

The fire broke out during an evening entertainment session, leading to the school's indefinite closure while authorities investigate the cause. Upon their return, each of the 1,340 students will be required to contribute Sh5,000, a decision that has been met with criticism from parents who believe the fine is excessive. Former students, including Kilifi County Assembly Speaker Teddy Mwambire, are urging for a thorough investigation to determine whether the fire was a result of arson or electrical faults before imposing fines on the students.

"We want to know if it was arson or an electrical fault. If it is an electrical fault, we have emergency funds at the constituency office. If the school is asking parents to pay Sh5,000, it means they know the cause of the fire," he said.

Concerns about accountability and suspicions surrounding the cause of school fires have been raised, especially in light of similar incidents in the region in recent years. In 2023, several schools in Kilifi County fell victim to fires, including Ngala Memorial Secondary School and St George High School. Ganze Member of Parliament Kenneth Kazungu dismissed the notion that mock exams were the sole trigger for these incidents and called on the Ministry of Education to delve deeper into the underlying issues.

"There must be something more than exams that is yet to be unearthed. It cannot be a coincidence that eight schools are on strike at the same time," Mr Kazungu said.

The occurrence of multiple school fires in Kilifi County has highlighted the urgency of implementing comprehensive strategies to tackle the underlying causes and guarantee the well-being and safety of students and educational establishments. The surge of school blazes has put a significant strain on parents who are now burdened with the financial responsibility of covering the damages caused by these fires.