Pressure Mounts on CS Ogamba, PS Kipsang to Resign After Endarasha School Disaster.
Two advocacy organizations, Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) and Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), called for the immediate resignation of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang.
This follows the tragic deaths of at least 21 students at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri.
The lobby groups blamed Ogamba and Kipsang for failing to ensure the safety of students in schools across the country, especially those involved in the recent tragedy.
They criticized both officials, alongside local officials in Nyeri, for not fulfilling their mandate, arguing that they should have been more proactive in protecting the students.
EBWG argued that the two officials, along with the Ministry’s Quality and Standards Assurance Team in Nyeri, should step down and take full responsibility for the incident.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission echoed this sentiment, stating that those responsible for inspecting the school and maintaining safety standards must be held accountable.
The KHRC insisted that swift action should be taken against the Hillside Endarasha school administration, as the tragic event occurred under their oversight.
Demands for Accountability and Safety Reforms
Additionally, the lobby groups called on the Ministry of Education to provide full transparency to the affected parents, including the safety conditions of their children and details about their whereabouts.
KHRC also revealed that it was finalizing a petition against those deemed negligent for not enforcing proper safety standards, which contributed to the deaths of the students.
The organizations demanded a nationwide review of safety standards in all schools, especially boarding institutions. Following this review, they urged the strict enforcement of safety regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
They emphasized that the responsibility for enforcing these safety measures lies with the ministry and relevant inspection bodies.
Government Response and Safety Inspections
Shortly after the demands from the lobby groups, Education CS Julius Ogamba held a press conference in which he ordered the immediate inspection of all schools nationwide.
Ogamba stated that the inspections would ensure all schools comply with the safety protocols outlined in the Safety Standards Manual.
He explained that the impromptu checks would help identify the root causes of the recent spate of school fires across the country.
According to Ogamba, these inspections would also allow the government to recommend necessary actions, especially when new interventions are required to address the current situation, which may differ from the indiscipline issues observed in previous years.
Calls for Nationwide Safety Enforcement
The incident at Hillside Endarasha Academy highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive safety reforms in schools, according to the lobby groups.
They reiterated that all parties responsible for enforcing safety must be held accountable, while the government should take steps to protect students by strengthening oversight mechanisms and enforcing regulations.
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The KHRC underscored the necessity of improving safety conditions nationwide, ensuring that no similar tragedies occur in the future.
Pressure Mounts on CS Ogamba, PS Kipsang to Resign After Endarasha School Disaster.
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