Murkomen urges schools to strengthen safety measures following Utumishi Girls fire tragedy

Speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony at Kipsigis Girls' High School in Kericho County, Murkomen emphasized the need for schools to ensure dormitories are not overcrowded and are equipped with adequate emergency exits.

"You must take proactive steps as principals and boards of management to ensure that our dormitories are not congested and that they have proper emergency exits," he said.

The Cabinet Secretary also urged learning institutions to strengthen their security preparedness by investing in surveillance infrastructure, including the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in strategic locations.

"We need to ensure that all schools have properly installed CCTV cameras covering critical areas, as well as a central control room for effective monitoring and response," he said.

Murkomen further encouraged teachers to cultivate strong relationships with students, saying open communication channels can help identify and address emerging concerns before they escalate into serious incidents.

"I want to encourage teachers to build strong networks and relationships with students so that they can freely share feedback on what is happening in school," he said.

Drawing lessons from the recent fire tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy, the CS noted that some warning signs and concerns raised by students were not accorded the attention they deserved, contributing to the unfortunate loss of lives.

"One of the things we have learned from Utumishi Girls Academy is that information shared by students was, in some cases, taken for granted," he said.

Murkomen said school administrators should take students' concerns seriously and establish effective reporting mechanisms to enhance safety and prevent future tragedies.

The Cabinet Secretary was accompanied by Eric Mutai, Belgut MP Nelson Koech, Kericho County Commissioner Ali Omar, and several Members of the County Assembly, among other leaders