Arson is to blame for the Moi Girls’ fire that claimed nine lives, Education CS Fred Matiang’i said on Monday.
Matiang’i, who doubles as the acting Interior CS, said this was the conclusion after thorough investigations by police.
“It was not an accident, it was arson,” he said following the incident during which seven pupils were killed.
He said two out of 10 injured students later succumbed to their injuries.
The Cabinet Secretary said people have been interrogated and that police have leads for the arrest of suspects.
“It is very unfortunate that we had to lose our children in such a manner. We have all the leads to the suspects but our love goes to affected families. We shall support them in all ways to ensure we ease their burdens.”
The fire destroyed a dormitory that house about 150 form one pupils.
He also said it has been established that some incidents are related to cases of discipline.
“Some of the fires we have faced before in the sector are related to that kind of thing, politicisation of school headship, politicisation of responsibility in the education sector. It is not right,” he said in a press conference.
“We cannot resolve a conflict on the headship of the school by burning a school.”
Unemployment is high in Kenya and corruption is rife, and control of a school can mean not just a government salary, but an opportunity to extort extra money from students and parents in fees or other charges.
The CS dismissed reports of attempted arson attacks at Sigiti Girls’ in Kisumu and Chuka Boys’ in Meru.
He said these were accidents and that more details will be given after investigations.