The rioting students boycotted classes and vented their anger on their dormitory, food store and kitchen, which they reduced to ashes destroying property worth thousands of shillings yesterday.
The students were bitter that the school did not perform well in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination like their neighbours Butula High, a national school. “The girls said they were being laughed at by boys from Butula High School over their dismal performance and demanded an explanation from their principal,” said Butula District Commissioner (DC) Langat Bosek.
Security visit
The DC, who led the security team in visiting the school, said they ordered the institution closed indefinitely.
“We directed the school to be closed as the matter is being handled by the security team,” he said.
He said an empty container used to carry petrol that was used to light up the fire was found in the school compound.
“We are treating this as arson and students found to be behind this would face the law,” said Mr Bosek.
“Property including food, books and personal effects of students in the three buildings were destroyed after rescuers failed to salvage anything from the raging fire,” he said.
He added: “we recovered an empty container which we suspect carried petrol at the school”.
Busia OCPD Kenneth Kimani said police would get hold of those behind the incident adding that no arrests had been made so far.
-Standard Digital
