A somber atmosphere has descended upon Dr. Aggrey High School in Taita Taveta County, one of the region’s top institutions. In a shocking series of events over just three days, the school has been struck by fires, accidents, and tragedy, leaving students, parents, and staff grappling with immense loss and trauma.
The school, located in the picturesque and peaceful suburbs near Wundanyi town, boasts a student population of about 2,000. On the evening of Friday, the first of the incidents unfolded: a mysterious fire broke out in one of the dormitories. The fire quickly ravaged the building, leaving behind nothing but rubble and ashes. Despite the combined efforts of the school and local community to put out the fire, their efforts proved futile. Fortunately, the fire occurred at night when all students were in class for their evening preps, and no lives were lost. However, the students lost personal belongings in the blaze.
Dr. Aggrey High School’s Principal, Mr. Aran, has suggested that the fire could have been caused by an electrical fault in the school’s system. He was quick to dismiss any speculation about student involvement, reassuring the community that the cause was accidental.
The very next day, tragedy struck again. A second fire erupted, this time consuming another dormitory just meters from the first. In light of the repeated incidents, the school made the difficult decision to close indefinitely, instructing students to vacate the premises and return home until further notice. As students scrambled to find transport to return to their families, many boarded mini-buses, unaware that danger was still looming.
On their journey home, tragedy struck once more. One of the mini-buses carrying students was involved in a fatal accident in Josa. The devastating crash resulted in the loss of four students and one parent, who had been visiting her child at a nearby school. The injured were rushed to Mwatate Sub-County Hospital and Moi Referral Hospital in Voi, with some suffering from broken bones and bruises. The impact of the accident was felt deeply by the entire community, as parents anxiously awaited news of their children, many of whom could not be immediately accounted for.
As a resident of Mwatate myself, I know all too well that the area around Josa has long been notorious for fatal accidents. This is not a new problem. I can recall hearing about these same dangerous accidents over 30 years ago when I was a child living near the Treetops Hotel in Mwatate. Despite advances in technology, road engineering, and safety measures, we still find ourselves confronting the same issues today. It is a shame that these fatal accidents continue to occur at the same spot, year after year.
I call upon the Minister in charge of roads to address this persistent problem with the urgency it demands. The loss of life along these roads has gone on long enough, and we cannot stand idly by while more families are devastated. The government must take decisive action to improve road safety in this area, and ensure that no more lives are lost due to preventable accidents.
In addition, it is time for the Ministry of Education to enforce stricter regulations regarding school infrastructure, particularly when it comes to fire safety. While new standards were put in place to prevent fire-related catastrophes in schools, enforcement has been lax. Dr. Aggrey High School was fortunate that the fires occurred at night when students were not in the dormitories. Had the fires occurred during the day, the consequences could have been far worse.
The government must also consider implementing a comprehensive insurance policy for school property, staff, and students. While no amount of money can replace the life of a loved one, insurance can help ease the financial burden on parents who lose personal belongings in a fire or accident. The cost of replacing burned infrastructure and covering medical expenses for injured students can be overwhelming, especially in these tough economic times. The government must step in to assist with these costs, just as they would in other parts of the country.
In the coming days, we hope to see action from both the Ministry of Roads and the Ministry of Education to address the urgent need for safety measures. We need to ensure that our students are protected from harm, and that no more lives are lost in accidents or fires. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families who have lost their children, as well as the teachers, staff, and students who are grieving this devastating period in the school’s history.
Let this be the moment that we take concrete steps to prevent further tragedy. It’s time to make meaningful change—for the sake of the future of our children.
May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may those recovering from the accident find strength and comfort in the days ahead.
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