KERICHO, Kenya — A fire broke out at Tengecha Boys High School in Kericho County on Sunday evening, prompting an emergency response from students, staff and residents from the surrounding Kapkatet community.
The blaze affected one of the school’s dormitories but was contained before it could spread to other buildings within the compound.
All students were accounted for after the incident, with no injuries or deaths reported.
Students, Residents Join Fire Response
The fire triggered a swift response as students and members of staff worked alongside residents to prevent the flames from spreading.
Some members of the surrounding community also rushed to the school and helped salvage students’ belongings from the affected dormitory as efforts to contain the blaze continued.
Images and videos from the scene showed thick smoke rising from the school as residents and school personnel worked to bring the situation under control.
Reports indicated that the second floor of the affected dormitory sustained significant damage, with windows and other infrastructure appearing extensively damaged.
Cause Of Fire Remains Unknown
The circumstances surrounding the outbreak remained unclear as of Sunday evening.
Authorities are expected to investigate the incident to establish the cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the damage.
The school community was able to contain the blaze before it reached other sections of the institution, preventing further destruction.
The incident comes amid renewed concern over fire safety in Kenyan schools, particularly dormitory fires and the need for institutions to maintain effective emergency response procedures.
A similar fire was reported at Kirwara Boys High School in Gatanga, Murang’a County, on August 26, where a school bus parked near the institution was also destroyed.
At Tengecha Boys, however, no casualties had been reported by the time of publication, with students safely accounted for after the fire was contained.
