Fire Breaks Out at Embakasi Girls Secondary School in Nairobi

A fire broke out early Sunday morning at Embakasi Girls Secondary School in Nairobi, engulfing one of the school’s dormitories in flames.

According to a statement by the Kenya Red Cross, response teams from the Nairobi Fire Brigade, Kenya Red Cross Action Team, and the Community-Based Response Team rushed to the scene and were working tirelessly to contain the blaze.

“Fire at Embakasi Girls’ School, Nairobi County. Efforts to contain it are underway,” read an update shared by the humanitarian agency.

Thick clouds of smoke were seen billowing from the school compound, with dramatic images circulating on social media showing concerned students standing helplessly as the fire consumed the dormitory. So far, no casualties have been reported.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and school authorities, alongside emergency responders, are expected to launch an investigation to establish what led to the incident.

This fire marks the latest in a troubling series of dormitory blazes across Kenya’s secondary schools. Just over a month ago, a dormitory at Nyambaria Boys High School in Nyamira County was also destroyed in a similar inferno.

The Nyambaria incident, which occurred in the early hours of May 27 during morning preps, displaced over 300 students and raised renewed concerns over safety standards in boarding schools.

While no lives have been lost in either incident, the frequency of such occurrences has alarmed education stakeholders and parents, with many now calling for improved fire safety measures, routine inspections, and investment in early warning systems within schools.

As investigations into the Embakasi Girls fire continue, the focus remains on supporting affected students and ensuring such disasters are prevented in the future.

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Fire Breaks Out at Embakasi Girls Secondary School in Nairobi