Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka has proposed for a commission of inquiry to be urgently set up to look in to the increased number of fires witnessed in schools across the country saying it is alarming that property worth millions of shillings have so far been destroyed.
Speaking during the burial ceremony of his uncle Dr. Moses Johnstone Wekesa Wesonga, who was also the husband to Bungoma County nominated Member of the County assembly Beatrice Wekesa in Mapera village Lusaka said the commission will help come up with ways to curb such incidences in future.
He added that Kapsokwony boys’ high school in his County was also affected saying the main cause of the fire must be known and a solution to the problem be addressed.
Governor Lusaka disclosed that his government has also set up memorandums with the cane factories to have the roads rehabilitated in their areas of operation saying transport activities in the areas must be looked in to for the benefit of the residents.
His sentiments were echoed by Bungoma south KNUT executive secretary Ken Nganga who said the commission must carry out a thorough probe in to the incidences as parents have carry the heavy burden of paying for the lost property.
Nganga also issued a seven day ultimatum to the ministry of education to pay up the supervisors and invigilators who were in charge of last year’s national examinations as it is unfortunate that this year’s exams are nearing yet they have not been paid saying they may be forced to paralyze this year’s exercise.
The executive secretary also called upon parents to abandon the old ways of circumcision as the season nears saying some of them have spend a lot of money brewing local beer as well as slaughtering animals for the ceremony and end up lacking school fees for their children the following term.
On her part Bungoma County assembly nominated Member for youths Nancy Kibaba also condemned the increased incidences of fire in schools and called upon stakeholders in the education sector to be consultative as well as ensure inclusiveness in decision making to curb such incidences in future.
She further asked parents to offer guidance to their children on good morals saying peer pressure may be the cause of some of them participating in such behaviors.
However she differed with education cabinet secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i of barring parents from visiting their children in third term because children feel comfortable when they are visited and encouraged by their parents to work hard in school.
She also took the opportunity to express her interest of vying for the Bungoma County women representative position in the forth coming general election as she is capable of delivering to the electorates.
Bungoma County ODM chairman Ali Machani said the party is still intact in the County even after the recent stepping down of Sirisia Mp John Waluke as the party chair saying it was his individual decision but party members are still loyal.
He said party leader’s Raila Amollo Odinga’s Western Kenya tour should not be mistaken saying it was planned long time ago saying it is his routine mandate to tour every part of the country to solidify his support base ahead of the next general election.
The late Dr. Wesonga worked as a lecturer in several universities including Makerere, Nairobi, Kenyatta and Maseno.