Strengthening Fire Safety Preparedness in Secondary Schools in Kenya

Abstract

The recent spike in secondary school fire incidences in Kenya points to dwindling levels of fire safety in schools. This is a result of inadequate preparedness of the schools to prevent and respond to the occurrences. The lacklustre approach impedes the attainment of Goal 4 of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development which aims to promote inclusive and equitable quality education. Significant drawbacks that exacerbate the situation include inadequate sensitization on comprehensive fire safety measures; weak integration of technology into traditional fire safety measures and structural gaps in enforcing the 2008 Schools Safety Standards Manual. Therefore, revitalizing the preparedness of secondary schools to ensure students' safety is vital to promoting quality education