All private and public schools within Machakos County will be trained on disaster and emergency safety in a bid to reduce emergencies in the institutions.
Mavoko Sub County Fire Brigade supervisor Duncan Kamatu said the rate of fire incidences in Machakos schools was alarming.
"The Machakos County government is going to facilitate the Mavoko fire brigade so as to offer free trainings to all public and private schools in the region in a bid to reduce fire outbreaks," said Kamatu. Both teachers and students are going to benefit from the trainings.
Kamatu, who was speaking to hivisasa in his office on Tuesday, said both the county and national governments will partner to implement the project starting early next month.
He said the idea was conceived after the county had reported several cases of students burning down schools in the county thereby causing great loses to the schools and parents.
"This project is intended to prevent children from burning more schools. Students from various schools in Machakos County have burnt down their dormitories not knowing that they are the losers. They also cause their parents unnecessary costs," said Kamatu.
He said the sensitisation would enable the children to know the importance of their schools and how to react to emergencies such as fire outbreaks.
According to the officer, more than six schools had been burnt down by students in Machakos County within the last one month.
Kamatu said the vice was a draw back to the county arguing lots of resources meant for other development projects were utilised to re construct structures after they were brought down by fire.
He advised students to refrain from burning down schools and instead concentrate in their studies.