The Kenya Red Cross has responded to at least 37 school fire incidents across multiple counties since the beginning of the year, 2026.
The humanitarian agency said its latest response was on Monday night, June 1, at Tarakwo High School in Bomet County, where a fire broke out at the institution. No casualties were reported.
According to the agency, the rising number of school fire incidents underscores the urgent need for stronger fire prevention and safety measures nationwide.
“This is now the fifth fire incident since the tragic Utumishi Girls Academy fire. Since the beginning of the year, Kenya Red Cross has responded to 37 school fire incidents across multiple counties,” the agency said.
Emergency response teams were deployed to Bomet County to assess the extent of the damage and support affected learners and the school community.
“We are on the ground in Bomet to assess needs and support the community,” the organisation said.
The recurring incidents have
heightened concerns among education stakeholders, with calls for stricter
enforcement of safety regulations, improved infrastructure, and enhanced
emergency preparedness in schools.
The dormitory fire that occurred at Utumishi Girls Senior Secondary School in Gilgil on May 28, 2026, remains one of the country's worst school fire tragedies in recent years.
The fire claimed the lives of 16 students and left over 70 students nursing serious injuries.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) positively identified the students who allegedly lit the fire that killed 16 students at Utumishi.
The DCI said a breakthrough was achieved following a detailed forensic analysis of CCTV footage recovered from the school.
According to the agency, investigators conducted an enhanced review of the footage at the Forensic Imaging and Acoustic Laboratory within the National Police Service Forensics Laboratory, leading to the identification of the students involved in the arson incident.
“After conducting a thorough, detailed forensic analysis of the CCTV footage recovered from the school coupled with enhanced review at the Forensic Imaging and Acoustic Laboratory at DCI National Police Service Forensics Laboratory, a positive identification of the students who lit the fire has been realised,” the statement said.
The DCI further revealed that analysis conducted in collaboration with teachers enabled investigators to confirm the identities of seven students who participated in the arson before fleeing the scene.
Of the eight suspects who had initially been arrested, six have been positively identified through the CCTV footage. The seventh identified student had earlier been released to her parents and is currently not in custody.
“Efforts are now underway to trace and arrest her,” the DCI said.
