Kakamega High School Closed Indefinitely After Night Fire Guts Dormitory

Kakamega High School has been closed indefinitely after a major fire broke out and razed one of the institution's dormitories on Friday night, June 5, 2026.

The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 PM while students were reportedly attending evening preps, allowing emergency responders valuable time to contain the blaze before it spread to other buildings within the school compound.

According to preliminary reports, the fire extensively damaged the dormitory, destroying property and leaving significant losses in its wake. However, no injuries or fatalities were reported, with all students safely accounted for following the incident.

The Kakamega County fire brigade, working alongside other emergency response teams, responded swiftly to the scene and managed to bring the inferno under control before it could engulf neighboring structures. Their quick intervention is believed to have prevented a potentially more devastating disaster.

Following the incident, Chief Principal Elphas Aliva Luvaso issued a communication directing parents and guardians to pick up their children from the school beginning Saturday morning, June 6. The administration cited safety concerns and the need to facilitate investigations and assessment of the damaged facilities as reasons for the indefinite closure.

Police officers, education officials, and fire investigators have since launched a formal probe to establish the exact cause of the fire. Investigators are expected to examine whether the blaze resulted from an electrical fault, accidental ignition, or deliberate arson.

The incident comes at a time when education authorities are grappling with a worrying rise in cases of student unrest, dormitory fires, and suspected acts of arson in secondary schools across the country. The trend has raised fresh concerns about discipline, student welfare, and security in learning institutions.

Adding to the concern, two other schools in Kakamega County—Mukumu Boys High School and Mukumu Girls High School—were also reportedly closed indefinitely on the same day following rising tensions within the institutions.

Education stakeholders are now calling for enhanced surveillance, counseling programs, and stronger preventive measures to curb incidents that disrupt learning and place students' lives at risk.

Authorities have urged members of the public to remain calm and allow investigators to complete their work, promising that appropriate action will be taken once the cause of the fire is established.