Millions in Property Destroyed as Inferno Engulfs Dormitory at Mirithu Girls High School
Millions of shillings’ worth of property has been destroyed after a devastating night-time fire tore through a dormitory at Mirithu Girls High School in Limuru, leaving dozens of students counting heavy losses.
According to initial reports, the blaze broke out in one of the school’s dormitories before rapidly spreading to adjacent sections, fuelled by highly flammable timber structures. Eyewitness footage and images circulating online show towering flames lighting up the night sky as the inferno consumed large parts of the institution.
Preliminary accounts suggest the fire may have been triggered by an electrical fault while students were attending evening classes, though authorities are yet to confirm the exact cause.
Despite the scale of the destruction, school officials confirmed that no fatalities were recorded. A roll call conducted after the incident established that all students and staff on duty were safely accounted for.
“We are grateful that no lives were lost, but the damage is extensive,” a source familiar with the situation said. “Students have lost nearly all their personal belongings.”
The fire spread with alarming speed, leaving little room for salvage efforts as flames swept through the dormitory, destroying bedding, uniforms, books, and other valuables.
In a desperate bid to contain the blaze, students, teachers, and members of the surrounding community joined forces, managing to prevent the fire from reaching additional buildings within the school compound.
The incident adds to a growing list of school fires reported across the country in recent months, raising renewed concerns about safety standards in learning institutions.
In January, more than 15 students were injured following a late-night fire at Matungulu Boys Secondary School in Kangundo, Machakos County, with victims rushed to Kangundo Level 4 Hospital.
Barely two months later, another blaze ravaged a girls’ dormitory at Mumbuni Girls Secondary School, also in Machakos County. The fire, which began in the early evening, was contained before spreading further thanks to a swift response from county firefighters.
Authorities have also been grappling with a wave of suspected arson attacks reported in September last year across Kiambu County, affecting schools such as Muhoho High and Uchekeini Boys and forcing temporary closures amid fears of student unrest.
Similar dormitory fires have been recorded in Machakos, Makueni, and Kericho counties, displacing students and destroying school infrastructure, though most incidents have not resulted in fatalities.
Education stakeholders are now calling for urgent safety audits, improved electrical inspections, and stricter enforcement of fire prevention measures in boarding schools to avert further disasters.
Also Read: Osotsi Accuses Ojienda of Links to Kisumu Attack Suspects