Learning at Kakamega High School has been interrupted after the institution was closed indefinitely following a fire that destroyed one of its dormitories on the night of Friday, June 5.
The incident has prompted investigations and forced students to leave the school as authorities assess the extent of the damage and work to establish what caused the blaze.
The fire broke out at around 8:00 PM while students were reportedly attending evening prep sessions. Because most learners were away from the dormitory at the time, emergency responders and school officials had enough time to organize an evacuation and prevent the situation from becoming more serious.
Preliminary reports indicate that the affected dormitory suffered extensive damage, with property worth an unknown amount destroyed in the fire.
Despite the losses, no injuries or deaths were reported. School administrators confirmed that all students were safely accounted for after the incident, bringing relief to parents, teachers, and the wider school community.
The Kakamega County fire brigade, together with other emergency response teams, quickly arrived at the scene and managed to contain the flames before they spread to nearby buildings.
Their rapid response is credited with preventing further destruction within the school compound.
Following the incident, Chief Principal Elphas Aliva Luvaso directed parents and guardians to collect their children from the school starting Saturday morning, June 6.
The administration explained that the decision to close the institution indefinitely was necessary to ensure student safety and create room for investigations and assessment of the damaged facilities.
Police officers, education officials, and fire investigators have since launched a formal inquiry into the cause of the fire. Investigators are expected to examine several possibilities, including an electrical fault, an accidental fire, or deliberate arson.
Authorities have not yet released any findings, saying the investigation is still at an early stage.
The incident comes amid growing concern over an increase in school fires and cases of student unrest reported in different parts of the country. Education stakeholders have repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of such incidents on learning, student welfare, and the safety of school environments.
The situation has attracted even more attention after reports emerged that Mukumu Boys High School and Mukumu Girls High School in Kakamega County were also closed indefinitely on the same day due to rising tensions within the institutions.
Education officials and community leaders are calling for stronger preventive measures, including improved surveillance systems, enhanced counseling programs, and closer cooperation between schools and parents.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and allow investigators to complete their work before conclusions are drawn regarding the cause of the fire.
