
Fire Razes Down Boarding Primary School’s Property In Meru
On the night of August 12, 2024, the Igoji Boarding Primary School in Meru County caught fire, destroying property worth millions.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined; however, police are investigating the night inferno.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma speculated that the cause of the fire could have been a land ownership dispute between the school and unnamed parties.
The County Commissioner, who visited the scene of the incident, stated that the scale of the destruction was enormous and unacceptable.
Fire destroys property of unknown value at Igoji Boarding Primary School in Meru pic.twitter.com/W1cpK39gks
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“We have visited this school and the extent of destruction I have witnessed here in this school is unacceptable,” the official stated.
The Commissioner said there are legal means of addressing the alleged squabbles.
“Even if there are issues, be it land ownership issues or construction of another institute on this parcel land. The way to solve the issue is not the destruction of property that we have witnessed,” he cautioned.
Igoji Boarding Primary School has been operating since 1970.
As the third term begins, many students will be without a place to stay due to the fire that destroyed the school.
“I will not accept cases of vandalism to continue. Anyone involved in financing any acts of crimes will be dealt in accordance with the law,” the government official affirmed adding that there is rule of law to be followed.
“The issue of land will be resolved through relevant government agencies that deal with land ownership as long there are land ownership documents.”
Father Lawrence Micheni, the director of Igoji Boarding Primary School, welcomed the county commissioner’s visit and condemned those believed to be responsible for the fire incident, calling it inhumane and retrogressive.
“Let us be human, let us be foresighted like our grandparents who donated this land,” he said.
The director went on to address the contentious issue of the school’s land ownership.
“On the matter of division of land, the National Land Commission visited the place, gave their suggestions and said the land has to be sub divided so that we have the primary section and the technical school because the land is big enough to accommodate not only two institutions even if a third institution wants to come,” he elaborated.
Fire Razes Down Boarding Primary School’s Property In Meru