A fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon at Christ the King Kirwara Boys High School in Gatanga, Murang’a County, as students returned to the institution.
The blaze sent students away from the affected areas as emergency responders moved in to contain the flames.
Students Evacuated as Fire Engulfs School Compound
The incident occurred on August 26 as students returned to the boys’ boarding school after the mid-year holiday. Video footage from the scene showed flames and thick smoke rising from parts of the school compound.
According to reports from the scene, students were evacuated from areas affected by the fire as efforts to contain the blaze continued.
A school bus parked inside the compound was among the property that caught fire. Several school buildings were also reportedly engulfed in flames.
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There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries linked to the incident. School officials were reportedly at the scene coordinating the response while emergency personnel worked to prevent the fire from spreading further.
Murang’a County fire engine was deployed to the school after the fire broke out. Emergency responders joined efforts to contain the flames as smoke continued to rise from the affected sections of the compound.
Kirwara Fire Adds to Recent School Blazes
The Kirwara incident comes amid a series of school fires reported in different parts of Kenya in recent months.
A day earlier, a fire was reported at St Michael Secondary School Kyenire in Mbeere North, Embu County, where a boys’ dormitory was affected.
In July, a fire also destroyed property at Jomo Kenyatta Boys’ High School in Nakuru County, with reports indicating that an administration block was among the facilities affected.
The circumstances surrounding the outbreak have not been established, and the extent of the damage was also yet to be established.
Several Houses Destroyed as Fire Razes Kibra
Earlier on August 26, a separate fire incident occurred in Gatwekera, Kibra, Nairobi, destroying several houses.
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The fire broke out near the Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) headquarters, prompting residents to scramble to contain the flames as they spread through the densely populated settlement. More than 20 structures, mainly houses made of iron sheets and wood, were destroyed.
Nairobi County Government’s disaster management team later arrived and contained the blaze shortly before noon.
At least one girl was injured and taken to hospital for treatment, while no deaths had been reported at the time of publication.
SHOFCO said its aerial water piping system helped residents and responders contain the fire. The organization also commended residents, volunteers, and emergency teams who helped prevent the blaze from spreading further.
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