Panic as another fire destroys two dormitories at St Joseph Seminary, Nakuru

Two dormitories were destroyed after a fire broke out at St Joseph Seminary in Baraka, Kuresoi North Subcounty, Nakuru county, on Saturday evening.

According to the police, the incident was reported by the director of the institution and the fire is said to have started at around 8 pm within the school compound.

This spread panic among parents who rushed to the scene. Police officers from Mau Summit Police Station, firefighters, and the public responded to the scene and managed to contain the blaze before it spread further.

The fire affected two student dormitories — St Peter’s, which has a bed capacity of 35 students, and St Gabriel’s, which accommodates 55 students.

Property destroyed in the incident included beds, mattresses, books, school uniforms, and other items whose value is yet to be determined.

At the time of the fire, all students were reportedly gathered in the school hall for a recreation and entertainment session, a circumstance that helped avert injuries and loss of life.

The seminary, which has a student population of about 125, confirmed that no one was injured during the incident.

Authorities have not yet established the cause of the fire. Investigations have been launched to determine the circumstances that led to the outbreak.

Police said an assessment of the damage is ongoing. It comes days after a fire killed 16 students at Utumishi Girls in Gilgil in an arson incident.

At least eight students were arrested and are likely to face murder charges.

In a different incident, police in Murang’a county were forced to intervene on Thursday night after a wave of unrest broke out at Kiaguthu Boys High School in Kahuro Subcounty.

According to police, the incident occurred between May 29 and 30, 2026, at around 10:15 pm, when students of the institution went on a rampage over undisclosed grievances.

The school principal reported that a group of students destroyed the window panes of classrooms and the administration block before some of them fled the institution and headed in different directions on foot.

Police responded promptly and managed to restore order at the school. Security personnel were deployed to the institution to maintain calm and ensure safety.

Some students remained within the school compound and were advised to stay calm as school management prepared to determine the next course of action the following morning.

Police confirmed that the situation was brought under control and that the school was calm by the time of the report. Investigations into the cause of the unrest are ongoing.