Drug abuse and indiscipline among students have been blamed for the increased cases of arson in schools in Kwale.
Dormitories in at least 14 secondary schools have been destroyed by fire this year.
The latest incident was at Waa Boys High School, whose dormitory was destroyed by fire in broad daylight.
Others are Ngozi Girls, Kingwede, Kinondo, Mwanambeyu, Kaya Tiwi, Mazeras Boys, Mwaluphamba, Taru, Golini, among others.
County commissioner Gideon Oyagi said investigations have revealed that some students have been abusing drugs, leading to arson in schools.
"We have noted with great sadness that some students use drugs that have prompted unrest and indiscipline in schools," he said.
In June, statistics released by an Ukunda-based youth affairs NGO showed that at least 8,000 boys and girls in Kwale below the age of 18 years are addicted to muguka. Another 5,000 are addicted to tobacco.
Some of them smoke bhang.
The organisation said most of the addicted children suffer from mental illness. Some have been forced to quit school to seek medication.
Some schools in the county lack perimeter walls and have weak security systems and can be accessed by anyone at any given time.
Oyagi said people can easily access the learning institutions and commit crime without being noticed.
"We know many schools don't have CCTV cameras or strong security systems to bar criminals from entering and this could possibly be a problem," he said.
Oyagi said the county security team met with various education shareholders in Kwale on Thursday to discuss ways to quell the alarming school unrest.
He said they agreed that schools must undertake guiding and counselling programmes for students.
Oyagi directed school management boards to work closely with the principals and teachers to solve problems affecting students.
The schools are also supposed to involve students' leadership in decision-making to prevent unrest.
Oyagi said learning institutions will be required to instal CCTV cameras and hire professional security guards.
"We must embrace technology to combat unrest and any other crimes in schools," he said.
Meanwhile, police patrols have been increased in schools.
Edited by A.N
