A major secondary school in Nakuru County has been closed indefinitely after a devastating dormitory fire triggered panic among students and led to the arrest of four learners suspected of orchestrating the incident.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers arrested the students following the early morning blaze at Magereza Academy on Wednesday, May 13.
The fire, which broke out while students were attending classes, destroyed part of a dormitory and property worth thousands of shillings, according to preliminary reports. No deaths were reported, although several students sustained minor injuries while attempting to salvage personal belongings from the burning structure.
Investigators from the Nakuru County DCI unit say CCTV footage played a critical role in identifying the suspects.
Speaking after the arrests, DCI detective Isaac Kiama said investigators had obtained surveillance footage allegedly showing the four students near the dormitory during the inferno.
“The suspects are currently assisting investigators as we seek to establish the exact cause of the fire and whether it was a coordinated act,” Kiama stated.
The incident forced the school’s management and board to suspend learning indefinitely and send hundreds of students home.
School officials said the decision was reached because the damaged dormitory had left the institution with insufficient accommodation facilities for its more than 800 students. The administration also argued that reducing the number of students on campus would allow investigators to conduct inquiries without interference.
However, the closure has sparked frustration among some parents, who questioned why the entire student body was sent home despite the arrest of suspects linked to the incident.
Several parents also raised concerns that the school could eventually shift the financial burden of rebuilding the destroyed dormitory onto families already struggling with school expenses.
“We understand the seriousness of the incident, but parents should not be punished financially for something allegedly caused by a few students,” one parent lamented outside the school gates.
Others urged the institution to explore alternative funding options to speed up reconstruction works and ensure students return to class as soon as possible.
The school board has not announced an official reopening date, but sources indicate learning may only resume after the damaged accommodation block is rebuilt or alternative housing arrangements are secured.
The Naivasha fire is the latest in a worrying wave of dormitory infernos reported in schools across Kenya since the start of the second term.
Last month, Mirithu Girls Secondary School was temporarily closed after a dormitory fire forced parents and guardians to collect students from the institution.
Barely 24 hours later, another fire broke out at Dr Aggrey High School, destroying one of the school’s key dormitories and leaving students stranded.
While investigations into the recent fires remain ongoing, education stakeholders have repeatedly linked similar incidents in the past to student unrest, academic pressure, strict disciplinary systems and dissatisfaction with school conditions.
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