Police detain four teachers over suspected school arson
Police were yesterday holding four teachers over an arson attack that razed down the administration block at Lugala Primary School in Shinyalu Constituency, Kakamega County.
The four were being detained at Shisasari Police Station in connection with burning of the block over alleged bad blood between them and their head teacher.
Wananchi from the area woke up to a horrific morning on Saturday after word went round that the school had been invaded by unknown people the previous night and razed down. Some of the pupils and their parents broke down into tears upon seeing the damage.
“I was yet to pick the KCPE certificate of my son who left this school last year. I am devastated because we are told all of them have been destroyed in the fire,” said a parent, amid tears.
Shinyalu Police boss Daniel Mukumbu confirmed that the teachers had been arrested for questioning.
“Our investigations point at an insider job that was hatched for some reasons that we are yet to establish. We are questioning the suspects and shall make a final decision after our investigations,” he said.
School buildings
The arsonists left posters on the school buildings and gate which narrated their grievances towards the head teacher. These included, “Sexual harassment of women and female teachers, illegal levies and fees, abuse of public office, theft of school cows and learners’ lunch and claims to have control of the entire education office in the sub-county.”
They also listed poor academic performance, punishing of female teachers who declined his sexual overtures and interfering with the early Childhood Development program at the institution.
But the head teacher who identified himself as Victor Ingosi, dismissed all the allegations saying he was being fought due to his strict style of administration. “I took over this school when there was widespread laziness and lethargy among teachers, which affected academic performance,” the head teacher said.