Fire Destroys Two Dormitories at Nakuru Boys’ School Amid Rising Concerns Over School Safety

A fire has destroyed two dormitories at St Joseph Seminary Boys’ School in Nakuru County, causing extensive property damage but leaving all students and staff safe.

According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, the blaze broke out on Sunday and was swiftly contained through a coordinated response involving the Timsales Company Fire Brigade, Nakuru County's disaster response team, and Kenya Red Cross first responders.

The fire gutted two dormitories with a combined capacity of 86 students, destroying accommodation facilities and personal belongings. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage.

“Two dormitories (86-bed capacity) were destroyed. No casualties or fatalities were reported,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement.

Emergency responders managed to prevent the fire from spreading to other structures within the school compound, averting a potentially larger disaster. The humanitarian agency praised the collaboration among the responding teams, noting that their rapid intervention helped save lives and limit destruction.

The incident comes just days after the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, which claimed the lives of 16 students and injured dozens more. It also follows another dormitory fire at Gacharage Secondary School in Murang’a County, where students were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.

The latest incident is likely to intensify concerns about safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools, as education authorities undertake nationwide inspections following the recent spate of school fires. The Ministry of Education has already directed officials to conduct comprehensive safety audits in all boarding schools to ensure compliance with fire prevention and emergency response regulations.