ACK St. Luke’s Nguumo Boys High School in Kibwezi West, Makueni County, has been indefinitely closed, with students sent home.
This follows a night of unrest on May 25 that resulted in the burning of two dormitories and extensive property damage.
The aftermath showed the school entrance leading to one of the affected dormitories where the interior was severely scorched, with charred beds and debris scattered across the floor.
Outside the dormitory, students’ metal trunks and other personal belongings were piled in an open area.
Reports indicate that police intervened and peace has been restored as investigations continue.
At the time of reporting, the cause of the unrest had not been determined.
This incident adds to the growing list of school fires and unrest affecting secondary schools since the start of the second term.
Students were arrested after CCTV footage implicated them in setting fire to a newly constructed dormitory.
The students were apprehended while attempting to flee the scene immediately after the fire, then handed over to school administration and later taken into police custody at Bondo Police Station.
Several schools have experienced dormitory fires, with some forced to close indefinitely, leaving parents to cover renovation costs.
The Ministry of Education has repeatedly expressed concern about school fires, describing them as a significant safety and security threat in educational institutions.
To address the issue, the ministry has strictly enforced the Safety Standards Manual for Schools, requiring institutions to enhance fire preparedness, while students involved in arson face criminal prosecution and permanent disciplinary records.