Police probe dormitory fire at Mumbuni Girls School in Machakos

The fire broke out around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the second floor of a two-storey building that accommodates all the school’s female students. Several beds, mattresses, blankets, boxes, and other personal belongings were reduced to ashes.

A swift response by Machakos County firefighters helped contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading throughout the building. Officers from Machakos Police Station also arrived promptly to restore calm and control the situation, as anxious parents and neighbours attempted to force their way into the school to assist in the rescue operation.

According to Machakos Deputy County Commissioner David Rotich, no casualties were reported. However, a few students went into shock and were rushed to Machakos Level 5 Hospital, where they received treatment before returning to school.

Education officials, including County TSC Director Jimal Ahmed and County Director of Education Margaret Mwirigi, visited the school but declined to comment, saying investigations were ongoing to establish the cause of the fire.

Several parents who rushed to the school recounted their experiences. Faith Mathei, who works in Machakos town and has a sister at the school, said she was relieved to find that no student had been injured, apart from a few who were in shock and had been taken to hospital.

Another parent, Edna Ndunge, said she assisted some students who had fainted in the dormitory, helping to get them to hospital. Alfred Nguyo, who also has a sister at the school, confirmed that only three girls had been affected by shock but were later stabilized and returned to class.