Panic as Fire Breaks Out at University Midnight

A fire broke out late at night at Tharaka University, gutting the institution’s ICT building and causing damage to other key administrative offices.

The fire, which started around midnight on September 24, quickly spread through the building, affecting the Vice Chancellor’s office, the examination center, and several other administrative departments.

Videos seen by The Kenya Times show flames engulfing parts of the building as firefighters battled the blaze well into the night hours.

Thick smoke could be seen rising into the night sky as emergency crews worked hard to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to adjacent structures.

University staff and security personnel were among the first to respond before county firefighting units arrived at the scene.

Despite their efforts, much of the building was already engulfed by the time the fire was brought under control.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Building Destroyed at Tharaka

No official statement has been released by the university administration regarding the origin of the blaze.

However, local authorities have launched a probe to determine what sparked the incident.

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The destruction of the examination center may disrupt upcoming assessments leading to academic interruption.

Students and staff were not in the building at the time of the fire, and no injuries have been reported yet.

As of the time of publication, the university had not issued a statement regarding the fire.

Where is Tharaka University located?

Tharaka University (TUN) is a public institution situated in Gatunga, within Tharaka South Sub-County of Tharaka-Nithi County.

It’s on the eastern side of Mount Kenya, the university is positioned along the Chiakariga–Marimanti–Ura Gate Road, close to Gatunga Market. It is approximately 231 kilometers northeast of Nairobi, accessible via the Thika–Meru highway.

Originally established as a campus of Chuka University, Tharaka University gained full university status in 2022.

It now offers a wide range of fully accredited academic programs, including certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies, serving both recent high school graduates and adult learners.

Nationwide Lecturer Strike

University education across Kenya has been disrupted due to a strike by members of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU). Lecturers have downed tools, demanding the government address three key issues:

• Release of KSh 2.73 billion for Phase Two of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which was due in July.
• Settlement of KSh 7.9 billion still unpaid from the 2017–2021 CBA.
• Commencement of talks and registration for the upcoming 2025–2029 CBA.

The ongoing strike has brought academic activities in public universities to a standstill as the unions push for resolution of these longstanding issues.

Recent Fire in Schools

Just a day earlier, a fire broke out at Tengecha Boys High School in Kapkatet, Bureti Sub-County, Kericho County, on the night of September 23, destroying a dormitory and damaging property of undetermined value.

Initial reports suggest the blaze, which started around 8 p.m., may have been caused by arson. The affected dormitory housed over 100 students.

The fire erupted shortly after a group of students had reportedly gone on a rampage, though local residents intervened and managed to prevent further unrest.

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Images and videos circulated online showed the dormitory completely engulfed in flames as community members worked to extinguish the fire.

This incident followed a similar one at Litein Boys’ High School, also in Kericho County, on September 21. The school was closed after violent riots led to fires destroying both dormitories and classrooms.

Tensions there reportedly escalated when school authorities refused students’ requests to watch an English Premier League match, triggering widespread destruction.

These incidents have raised concerns about potential disruptions to students preparing for upcoming national examinations.

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