A seemingly fed up President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned those behind the wave of school fires that they will be dealt with firmly according to the law.
The escalation of arson cases in schools across the country over the last month have seen Uhuru reveal that the government is seeking solutions to the challenges facing the education sector.
Uhuru spoke on Friday during the graduation of more than 2,000 youths trained in financial and entrepreneurial skills at the KICC saying there is no justification for learners to torch dormitories however aggrieved.
“It is very shameful for students burning structures in their schools. They torch the buildings not knowing it is their parents who will pay for the damages,” he said.
He warned, “Those who think this is the solution to their grievances watajua dawa ya moto ni moto.”
The incessant fires in schools have not abated with arrests being made as recently as yesterday when some students from Kangemi High School were arrested with two litres of petrol.
Uhuru said that pressure to get good grades may be among the factors causing students to raze down buildings in their institutions advising parents and teachers not to exert excess emphasis on academic excellence.
Education Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang’i who was in the meeting on Tuesday said there were cartels which were driving the arson attacks. He linked them to leaked exams and the cause of the fires was due to their failure to procure the papers form KNEC.
Dr Matiang’I said Kenyans must join hands and face the current arson problem seriously. He has been under fire for not doing enough to quell the unrests which has seen some MPs and stakeholders in the education sector calling for his resignation.
On Thursday, Cord leaders Moses Wetang’ula, Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar and MPs John Mbadi and Millie Odhiambo demanded the resignation of the education CS over the school fires.
Earlier in a Facebook post, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o seemingly defended Dr Matiang’i saying cartels were behind the fires.