Last year's long closure of schools to contain Covid-19 could have sparked the return of arson attacks in secondary schools, principals say.
Over the years, the second term of school calendars have been characterised by chaos, with students razing school structures.
In the latest fire incident, horrific recordings show some students at Buruburu Girls jumping from the first and second floors of a blazing dormitory.
The Buruburu incident occurred simultaneously with a similar case reported at Chavakali Boys in Vihiga county.
The incidents came just three days after fire gutted a section of a dormitory at Kanjuri High School in Nyeri during the morning preps.
In September, some 40 students were hospitalised after inhaling smoke after a school fire at Ofafa Jericho High.
Other institutions that have experienced fires include Sigalame Boys High School, Moi Girls Marsabit, Kabarak High School and Gendia Secondary School.
Most arson cases have occurred in boarding schools.
Indimuli Kahi, the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman, said that the nine-month closure of schools could have fuelled the return of arson attacks in schools.
He said boys were probably working, while others ran small businesses or even worked with their parents and this makes it hard for them to readjust to strict school routines.
"It has been almost an entire year at home due to coronavirus restrictions, and now these students...are finding this the perfect time to vent out their frustrations," Kahi said.
National Parents Association chairman Nicholas Maiyo said this year’s wave of unrest has been blamed on fear of exams, opposition against headteachers, peer influence, change in education policies and indiscipline.
"Boarding schools, which account for at least 80 per cent of schools in Kenya, are often targeted because students feel imprisoned there," Maiyo said.
Students who spoke to the Star said there is a missing link between them and the administration.
They said this prevented them from having meaningful dialogue and peaceful resolution. They ended up targeting the institutions because their grievances tend to be school-based.
The students said they are belittled rather than acknowledged.
Despite their actions being labelled as hooliganism, the learners said arson and riots have in the past given way to the administration acknowledging their dissatisfaction.
The most commonly cited complaints include high-handedness, unaccountable styles of management, poor quality diets and inadequate learning resources.
“Those bold enough to approach the administration in a diplomatic way end up being victimised and the administration will look for a reason to push them out of the school through expulsion or frustrating them,” a student said.
However, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said no reason can justify the need to destroy school property.
“There is always another way, a better way to approach issues. We advise students to seek better ways of addressing their matters,” Magoha said.
