The management of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has finally opened the lid on what transpired during a fire incident that torched one of the student hostels at the institution early Tuesday morning.
According to the management, 88 students were affected by the fire that caught the second floor of the hostel where they were accommodated. The university revealed that the students lost their personal effects and valuables from the incident.
Additionally, all the students who sustained injuries during the incident were discharged from the hospital with only three remaining under observation.
JKUAT announced that they already have made plans to provide counseling to affected students as well as alternative accommodation.
”The University Management deeply regrets the unfortunate fire incident that affected about eighty-eight (88) students who stayed on the second floor of the hostel. The students lost personal effects and other valuables. A few students sustained minor injuries and have been treated in hospital and released. Only three are currently under observation in the university hospital,” JKUAT stated in a statement.
”The University Management empathises with all the affected students. The Management has made necessary arrangements to provide support to the students including counselling services and alternative accommodation,” it added.
Learning at the varsity will proceed uninterrupted after the management noted that the inferno’s impact did not warrant a closure.
”We wish to inform all our stakeholders that University programs and activities will continue as per the semester schedule,” JKUAT stated.
”In the interim, the University Management wishes to reassure all students, parents, guardians, and other stakeholders that the safety and security of the students in JKUAT is of utmost priority. The university therefore has enhanced security surveillance measures in and around the institution to ensure that all students and staff are safe.”
The cause of the fire had however not been established even as officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations continued with their investigations.
In the incident covered by Kenyans.co.ke, videos from the scene depicted huge balls of fire and smoke engulfing the affected building as students watched in disbelief. The students could also be heard shouting in agony as rescue operations by their fellows continued.
Kenyans.co.ke learnt of a purported warning letter circulating on social media, alleging that the university administration had been cautioned about the incident.
However, we could not independently verify the claims within the letter, which suggested that the suspected arsonists had targeted a population of 5,000 students from the university.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE