An early morning fire on Tuesday, May 27, has left Nyambaria Boys’ High School in Nyamira County counting significant losses after one of the dormitories was completely destroyed. The incident, which occurred at around 4 a.m. while students were attending their morning prep, saw flames engulf the structure and destroy personal belongings of over 300 students. The blaze, which could be seen from neighbouring estates, was eventually contained by the Nyamira County fire brigade.

While no injuries or casualties were reported, the extent of the property damage was considerable. Mattresses, uniforms, books, and other essential items were reduced to ashes. Preliminary observations indicate that the dormitory’s proximity to the school’s kitchen could be a key factor under investigation, although the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Nyambaria Boys is known nationally for its academic excellence. In 2022, the school gained recognition after all 488 candidates achieved an impressive mean score of 10.8975 in the KCSE exams. This reputation makes the recent incident even more disheartening, with calls for improved safety measures across all learning institutions now intensifying.

In response to the increasing number of fire incidents in schools and informal settlements, Nairobi Regional Commissioner Katee Mwanza announced on Monday, May 26, that the government is taking action to strengthen fire preparedness. Authorities are working closely with the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) to roll out early warning systems and enhance community training on disaster response.

Mwanza urged residents, particularly in Nairobi, to remain vigilant and report fire incidents promptly. She emphasized the importance of timely intervention in reducing damages and safeguarding lives. Ongoing investigations aim to uncover the root causes of these fires and pave the way for more robust fire safety interventions.

This latest fire incident comes just a day after unrest was reported at Friends School Mbale in Vihiga County, where students went on a rampage after being denied permission to watch the final day of the Spanish LaLiga. The unrest led to significant damage to the deputy principal’s office.

As the country grapples with a surge in school-related fire incidents, stakeholders are now pushing for immediate and long-term reforms. From improving infrastructure and surveillance to empowering communities with safety training, the need to safeguard students and their learning environments has never been more urgent.