Cutting Tree at Kakamega School destroys classroom block.
On Saturday, a tree fell on a classroom block at Kakamega School, destroying it.
What began as a saw miller’s mission to clear some trees to allow for the construction of five classrooms for the Competency-Based Curriculum was halted when a massive tree fell on the classroom block, completely destroying it.
No one was injured because the incident occurred outside of class.
It was discovered that the school administration had not obtained permission from the forest department to cut the trees.
When contacted for comment, school principal Gerald Orina, who has been at the centre of controversy since his arrival at the school in January 2018, told the Star over the phone that it was an accident.
He could not, however, confirm or deny whether the school had been granted permission to cut down trees by the School Board of Management and a county environmental committee.
Regulations governing the cutting of trees in public institutions or places require that the management form an environment committee, from which a minute detailing the scope and expected date of the tree felling would be derived.
After a site visit, the resolution would be forwarded to the forest department for approval.
On Monday, Western Assistant Head of Conservancy Western Martin Mamati stated that the cutting of trees at Kakamega School was not sanctioned by his office.
“We are sending a team to the school on Tuesday to investigate the matter. But when I talked to the Lurambi sub-county forest officer, she confirmed to me that no request was made to her office.“ Mamati said.
She claimed that the principal had called to inquire about the procedure for cutting trees in the school because they were planning to clear a site for the construction of some classrooms.
On November 10, last year, the school Board of Management sat and imposed a Sh9,823 fine on each student for the repair of a dormitory that had been destroyed by fire, the cause of which is unknown.
When asked who would bear the cost of repairing the damaged building, BoM chairman Prof Egara Kabaji said the board would meet to investigate and make a decision.
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He stated that a proposal was on the table to have some trees cut down to make way for the CBC classroom, but he could not confirm the existence of a board minute requesting approval from the forestry department to cut trees.
“The principal is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school. Up to now, he has not briefed me about the destruction.” Kabaji said.
Cutting Tree at Kakamega School destroys classroom block
Cutting Tree at Kakamega School destroys classroom block
