Editor's Review

“The inspection will involve officials from the Ministries of Education, Interior and National Administration, Health, and Department of Public Works."

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced that the government will conduct a nationwide inspection of all schools.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 11, Ogamba said the inspection will assess the level of compliance with the guidelines of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in the country.

“It has, therefore, become necessary for the Ministry of Education, jointly with relevant agencies, to conduct an urgent countrywide inspection of all public and private basic learning institutions to assess their levels of compliance with the guidelines of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya,” said Ogamba.

The Education CS noted that the first phase of the inspection started this week and will cover all boarding primary and junior secondary schools while the second phase of the inspection exercise will cover Secondary schools.

“The inspection will involve officials from the Ministries of Education, Interior and National Administration, Health, and Department of Public Works. It will also involve officers from the County Governments and the Kenya Red Cross,” Ogamba stated.

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File image of Education CS Julius Ogamba. 

According to the Education CS, the inspection will provide an opportunity for the Government to unearth reasons behind the recent spate of school fires that have been reported in a few schools in the country; and make appropriate recommendations to remedy the situation.

He further said the government will take firm and decisive action against Ministry of Education officials, school administrators, and managers found to have flouted the guidelines stipulated in the Safety Standards Manual for Schools.

“Although the provisions of the Safety Standards Manual for Schools in Kenya have been adhered to by most schools, a few institutions have flouted the guidelines leading to most unfortunate and regrettable accidents that have, at times, cost innocent lives, caused injuries and led to loss of property,” Ogamba added.

This comes after a fire tragedy at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri County claimed the lives of 21 pupils and over 10 others injured.