Top performing school closed after fire burns dormitory

A top performing school in Nakuru County, Rongai Agri-Tech Boys High School, has been closed indefinitely following a fire that gutted down one of its dormitories on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, the school administration resolved to send the students home.

Rongai sub-County director of education Janet Ochieng confirmed that the school has been closed for an unspecified period to allow the management time to organise for an alternative accommodation for students.

Ms Ochieng said the cause of the 8pm fire has not yet been established even though they suspect an electric fault.

All students’ personal belongings were torched in the 100-bed capacity dormitory.

According to one of the teachers who was present during the incident, Mr Mathews Okubi, students were still in their evening preps when the fire broke out.

Mr Okubi said he was still in class with students when he heard cries of help to put out the fire.

“There were loud sparks coming from the dormitory before we heard students shouting ‘Help!’ ‘Fire! Fire,” said Mr Okubi.

Local residents rushed to the school and helped students and staff put out the fire using buckets of water drawn from the school’s fish pond.

The county government fire fighters arrived at the scene only to find the blaze already extinguished.

Mr Stanley Kolum, from the office of the area MP Mr Raymond Moi, said it was disturbing that many schools in their constituency have had fires whose causes are yet to be established, with dormitories being the most affected.

“Now we have to look at the bigger picture. Why is it that it is only dormitories and no other buildings that are being burnt down and the fires blamed on electric faults? ” said Mr Kolum.

The area OCPD Mr Joseph Mwamburi, however, said investigations to establish the real cause of the fire are underway.

(Editing by Joel Muinde)