A fire broke out on Thursday evening at Gacarage Secondary School in Kandara Ruchu, Murang’a County, triggering an emergency response from county fire and rescue teams.
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata confirmed that emergency personnel had been deployed to the school and were working alongside local community responders to contain the blaze.
The county government said the safety of students, teachers, and nearby residents remained its highest priority as efforts to put out the fire continued.
Gacarage Secondary School in Murang’a. Photo: Courtesy.
Authorities indicated that evacuation procedures were immediately activated after the incident, and all students were successfully accounted for.
The cause of the fire had not been established by the time of reporting, with officials stating that a comprehensive assessment would be conducted once the situation was fully under control.
Members of the public were urged to stay away from the school to allow emergency responders and security personnel unrestricted access to the area.
Residents were also advised to follow directions issued by county officials and the National Police Service while refraining from sharing unverified information about the incident.
County authorities assured parents and the school community that response teams were working to contain the fire and minimize damage, adding that updates would be provided through official Murang’a County communication channels.
The incident came on a day marked by tragedy following a devastating dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls’ Academy in Gilgil.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that 16 students lost their lives in the fire.
He said the school had a total of 808 students at the time of the incident and noted that investigations were underway to identify the victims and establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
According to the ministry, 79 students sustained injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.
Of those injured, 71 had been discharged, seven remained admitted, while one student had been released into the care of her parents.
