Failed attempt to burn Maranda High School dorm, again

There was another attempt to burn down a dormitory at Maranda High School on Tuesday evening.

The abortive fire happened just days after students resumed learning. The first group of students reported back to the school on November 22.

There was a fire incident reported in the school on November 7.

The following day, the school was closed indefinitely. The fire gutted Ogango, a dormitory that accommodates 200 students, destroying students belongings.

Six students suspected of involvement in the arson were arrested, arraigned but the court ordered their release on Monday.

Bondo principal Magistrate J.P Nandi further directed the school to readmit the students after DCI detectives probing the matter closed the file, citing failure to get evidence linking them to the incident.

But on Tuesday, around 5.40pm, as students were taking supper, a fire was detected in a makeshift dormitory that hosts 220 students.

Blankets were burnt before the fire was put out according to Bondo subcounty police commander Roseline Mnyolmo.

According to a teacher who did not want to be named, a student was caught on CCTV fleeing from the scene after lighting the fire.

However, the school administration did not hand over the suspect to the police following the release of the six students linked to the November 7 incident.

On Wednesday, Siaya county director of education Nelson Sifuna led the school’s executive board members to a meeting in the wake of the Tuesday evening incident.

He told the Star on the phone that among the resolutions reached at the meeting was to suspend an internal mock that was scheduled for Monday next week, until further notice.

The county education director was categorical that the court order to readmit the students would be obeyed.

The Star established that two police officers have been deployed to the school to enhance security. They will be carrying out night patrols in the school compound, alongside teachers on duty. The OCPD disclosed that the officers begun their assignment at the school on Monday.

During a student baraza with the administration after the Tuesday incident, students got the opportunity to air their grievances.

“The administration had a baraza with the students and they isolated issues that touched on their welfare,” our source said.

The grievances included changes made on the menu . They also had issues with pocket money being held by the administration. “ They further mentioned teaching programmes in which lessons begin too early, waking up at 4am and sleeping at 11pm,” our source revealed.

He noted that the form fours also did not want to sit for mock exams; a section threatened to burn the school again, with the threats written on toilet walls.

On Wednesday, the county education director said schools in the county have been asked to suspend the mock exams. “ This was just an internal arrangement. We can’t allow county mocks,” he said.

Sifuna said that among the resolutions passed during the executive board meeting was that the students should wake up at 5.30am.

“ We agreed that the form four students will go to bed at 10 pm while the rest at 9.20pm. Lessons will begin at 8 am for all classes,” he said.

The police also proposed some adjustments to the administration, including overhauling the security guards at the school.

The OCPD said they also advised the school administration to ensure all dormitories remain locked whenever students are outside.

“Currently the school has six security guards who secure the dorms. However we believe some of them are aiding the students involved in arson,” she said.

The OCPD said they will be arraigning one of the watchmen who was caught on CCTV camera engaging a student when the fire broke out instead of raising an alarm.