A fire broke out on Thursday evening at Gacarage Secondary School in Kandara Ruchu, Murang’a County, prompting an emergency response from county fire and rescue teams.
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata confirmed the incident in a public statement, saying emergency personnel had been deployed to the school and evacuation procedures immediately activated as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.
“We are aware of the fire incident currently affecting Gacarage Secondary School,” Kang’ata said.
The governor said Murang’a County Fire and Rescue teams were actively battling the fire alongside local community responders while authorities prioritized the safety of students, staff and nearby residents.
“The safety of students, staff, and nearby residents is our immediate priority. Evacuation protocols have been activated, and all learners have been accounted for,” he stated.
Gacarage Secondary School fire
Authorities said the cause of the fire had not yet been established, adding that a full assessment would be conducted once the situation was brought under control.
Kang’ata urged members of the public to avoid the school area to allow emergency vehicles and responders unrestricted access to the scene.
“Please avoid the school area to allow emergency teams clear access,” the governor said, while also cautioning residents against spreading unverified information online.
County officials directed residents with urgent concerns to use the Murang’a County Disaster Management platform through the MyMuranga App as response operations continued.
This comes less than 24 hours after a deadly school inferno at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, left 16 students dead.
Also Read: Utumishi Girls Academy Dorm Design Raises Safety Concerns
The pre-dawn fire at the girls’ boarding school also injured at least 74 others after flames engulfed the Meline Waithera dormitory, which housed approximately 220 learners.
Utumishi Girls Academy inferno
According to preliminary accounts from survivors and witnesses, the blaze broke out at around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday while students were asleep.
Panic reportedly erupted as students attempted to escape the burning dormitory, with some survivors alleging that one of the exits remained locked during the emergency, trapping several learners inside as smoke and flames rapidly spread through the building.
Emergency response teams, including local fire brigades, Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) personnel, National Youth Service (NYS) officers and medical crews managed to contain the fire after several hours.
The school has since been closed indefinitely as detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) continue investigations into the cause of the tragedy.
Also Read: Tragedy as Parent Dies While Going to Confirm Child’s Safety at Utumishi School
Authorities have not officially determined what sparked the Gilgil fire, although some survivor accounts have pointed to suspected arson involving mattresses inside the dormitory.
The tragedy triggered emotional scenes as parents gathered outside the school searching for information about their children, while dozens of injured students were rushed to hospitals for treatment.
Senior government officials, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, later visited the scene as pressure mounted on authorities to explain how such a devastating fire could occur.
The government also activated a national emergency hotline to assist affected families and provide counseling support.
The deadly inferno has intensified debate over safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools, particularly around dormitory design, emergency exits, night supervision and fire preparedness systems.
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