Following the tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy that claimed 16 young lives, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged schools to immediately overhaul their safety measures by installing CCTV cameras, upgrading dormitories, and fostering closer teacher-student bonds.
During a thanksgiving ceremony at Kipsigis Girls’ High School in Kericho County, Murkomen challenged principals and boards of management to take ownership of safety standards right away rather than waiting for official ministry inspections, warning that procrastination puts students’ lives at risk.
“Let’s not wait for officials from the ministry to come and inspect whether dormitories and classrooms are safe. We must take proactive steps ourselves as principals and boards of management to ensure that our dormitories are not congested and that they have proper emergency exit doors. We must also install CCTV cameras,” he said.
He championed the widespread adoption of surveillance technology, such as CCTV systems and central monitoring hubs, to spot and deter potential threats before they escalate. He noted that tech-savvy schools are far better equipped to prevent disasters.
Murkomen also highlighted the power of stronger teacher-student relationships, noting that open dialogue encourages learners to speak up about safety worries and school dynamics.
“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. “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 admitted that watching the CCTV footage from the Utumishi tragedy deeply shook him.
“I was reviewing the CCTV footage of Utumishi Academy, and I felt very sad. I even struggled to sleep because we could see the kids who were coming to light the fire,” he said.
Murkomen labeled the incident deeply disturbing, calling it a wake-up call for schools to prioritize discipline and character building.
“That is the most demonic thing I have seen myself… As children and as students, as teenagers, you need to know that it is not enough to be brilliant. It is important to have the right character, the right attitude of learning, and the necessary skills that you need to navigate life,” he said.
He challenged students to balance academic success with good behavior, warning that focusing too heavily on exams sacrifices vital character development.
