Students treated after fire in two dorms

Seventeen students and a cook were taken to hospital after inhaling toxic fumes when a school building caught fire in Kirinyaga County.

The victims were taken to a private hospital in Kerugoya town where they were treated and discharged after several hours of observation.

The fire, which burnt down two dormitories at Kamuiru Boys High School in Kirinyaga Central Sub-County shortly before 8pm on Thursday, left 160 students in the cold. Property of unknown value was destroyed in the incident that occurred as students attended their evening classes.

County fire fighters arrived at the school late.

“We received information late and when we arrived, the dormitory had already been destroyed by the fire,“ said John Kiama, head of the county fire department.

Electric fault

County Director of Education Margaret Mwirigi said the situation had been managed.

“Since the students who had inhaled the toxic gases from the burning dormitory have been treated and discharged, learning is to continue as usual. Alternative accommodation has been organised for the affected students,“ she said.

Mwirigi said although an electric fault was suspected to have caused the evening fire, investigators were on the ground to establish the cause. The scene has since been secured by detectives as learning resumed. 

Yesterday, worried parents thronged the school to see their children. They held an impromptu fund raiser to assist the students who lost belongings during the incident. Principal Stephen Muchiri was at hand to contain the anxiety.

Jamleck Muthee, whose two sons are students at the school, said he had been restless following axiety caused by the incident.

“I left home at dawn to be here since I had no idea if my sons were safe,“ he said.