Kambaa, Gitweku girls secondary school dorms catch fire

Kambaa Girls High School in Lari constituency, Kiambu, has been closed down indefinitely following a fire outbreak that occurred last evening at 6pm.

Parents were told they would receive reopening communication from the school administration as investigations are ongoing.

Learners were in classes at the time of the incident. 

Meanwhile, a dormitory at Gitweku Girls Secondary School in Kahuro, Murang’a, also went up in flames on Monday.

The incident left 74 occupants without personal effects as the community helped in containing the fire, preventing it from spreading into the adjacent dormitory with 54 students.

Murang’a county fire department chief Bilha Wanjiku said there is a need for forensic investigations into the cause of the fire.

She said there was confusion at the time the fire started with the school administration reporting it started at 5.15am.

Wanjiku said the neighbours living around the school reported that the flames were spotted at around 4am.

“Basing on the findings at the scene the disaster committee has recommended electric experts to help gather more information. The time as to when the fire started should be a point of concern,” said Wanjiku.

Murang’a county commissioner Fredrick Ndunga said it is suspected there was an electrical fault, with teams from the DCI and Kenya Power investigating.

“School workers in the kitchen saw sparks before they saw flames from the dormitory. There is no suspicion of foul play, that's why the investigating teams have been mobilised to the school,” said Ndunga.