Emergency teams were on Thursday evening, May 28 fighting a fire that erupted at Gacharage Secondary School in Kandara Ruchu, Murang’a County.
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang'ata confirmed the incident, stating that county fire and rescue personnel had been deployed to the school and were working together with local residents to contain the flames.
“Murang’a County Fire and Rescue teams are on site and actively battling the fire alongside local community responders,” Kang’ata said in a statement.
The governor said the county government’s main concern was the safety of students, teachers, and residents living near the school.
County authorities noted that evacuation measures were immediately initiated after the outbreak, adding that all students had been safely accounted for.
“The safety of students, staff, and nearby residents is our immediate priority. Evacuation protocols have been activated and all learners have been accounted for,” the statement read.
Officials added that the cause of the fire remained unknown, saying investigations and a full assessment would commence once the situation was brought under control.
Kang’ata also appealed to the public to stay away from the school to give emergency crews unrestricted access and cautioned residents against circulating unverified reports about the incident.
“Please avoid the school area to allow emergency teams clear access. Follow instructions from County officers and National Police on the ground,” he said.
He further advised residents to rely on official county communication channels, including the MyMuranga App, for confirmed updates and emergency information.
The fire comes at a time of growing concern over safety in schools following recent dormitory fire incidents across the country, including the blaze at Utumishi Girls Academy that claimed the lives of 16 students earlier on Thursday.
Government pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor arrived at the school following the tragedy that saw a second-floor dormitory gutted in the late-night blaze. In a statement, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said Dr Oduor had joined investigations to help establish the cause of the deaths.
The bodies of the victims were transferred to Naivasha General Hospital, where DNA identification supported by the government was set to be conducted to help families identify their loved ones.
The government also announced the indefinite closure of the school after the tragedy left 79 students injured.
Parents whose children escaped the inferno unhurt were asked to pick them up from the school.
