Students of Itiero Boys High in Kisii torch 11 dorms.

Itiero boys students in Kisii went on a rampage on Saturday, June 25, burning school facilities. PHOTO: TUKO

Rampaging students of Itiero Boys High School in Suneka, Kisii county on Saturday night, June 25, destroyed school facilities.

Apart from burning school dormitories, the unruly students also blocked the Kisii-Migori road and pelted stones at anyone who dared to go near the school, Tuko reports.

The aftermath of the chaos. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

The incident took a turn for the worse when fire fighters were blocked by the rioting students as they tried to access the school to contain the fire.
Anti-riot police officers had to be called to disperse the rioting students who had already torched eleven dormitories at the school out of 12.

What was left of one of the dorms that were burnt down. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

Kisii Governor James Ongwae expressed anger in a statement saying he was disappointed by the incident terming the actions by the students as regrettable.
“Regrettable information reaching me now, Itierio High School facilities have been set a blaze,
“Indications are that rioting students could have set the dormitories a blaze. Efforts by the disaster response teams and police to reach the place have been hampered by the unruly students who have also disrupted any effort to save the situation,
“With the help of the police, our disaster response team is still working towards accessing the school to manage the situation,” read the statement.
According to the police, all hell broke loose when the school administration denied the students a chance to watch the ongoing Euro 2016 football tournament.

Inside one of the burnt dormitories. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

The same was confirmed by the Kisii South OCPD David Mburukwa who said indeed football was the reason the students burnt down the dormitories.
Aside from the dormitories that went up in flames, the school incurred other losses as students also vandalised the dining hall and laboratory as well as raiding the principal’s office.
The rowdy students also reportedly damaged the school canteen before invading a neighbouring school causing further damages.
Police however reported there were no injuries as a result of the student unrest.
It will be remembered that back in March 26, 2001, a group of students set fire to a dormitory at Kyanguli Mixed Secondary School in Machakos, killing 63 students.
The Kyanguli school tragedy is regarded as the deadliest school arson attack in Kenya.
The 63 students killed in the tragedy aged from 14 to 20 years and were in Form Four.
Via Tuko