Fear Grips Onjiko High as Fire Destroys Dormitory in Kisumu County
Panic and fear gripped students and staff at Onjiko High School in Kisumu County after a fierce fire broke out at one of the school’s dormitories on the afternoon of Monday, July 7.
The raging fire completely destroyed the second floor of the dormitory block while shocked onlookers stood by, helpless. Videos and photos taken during the incident showed massive flames leaping up to the roof, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.
The blaze threatened to spread to nearby buildings, creating a tense atmosphere within the school compound.
By the time this report was published, there were no reported injuries or fatalities. However, the destruction of personal belongings belonging to students has left many learners devastated.
Onjiko High School has over 1,000 students, and many were away from the dormitories when the fire broke out—raising suspicions that it could be another possible case of arson in a high school.
Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the fire, but early speculations suggest that the inferno may have been deliberately started.
This comes amid a troubling trend of fire incidents in Kenyan high schools, especially around June and July—months that often coincide with increased academic pressure as exams approach.
The Onjiko fire has only added to the school’s recent struggles. Not long ago, the school made headlines after being slapped with a three-year suspension from participating in competitive secondary school sports.
This punishment followed a controversy in the Kisumu County Secondary Schools football tournament, where Onjiko High was accused of fielding players who were not officially registered students.
Despite there being no injuries in this latest incident, the damage caused by the fire is significant and adds yet another challenge for the school administration to address.
The situation has also reignited national concerns about the increasing number of fire outbreaks in schools during this time of the year.
Just two days before the Onjiko fire, a blaze was reported at Embakasi Girls’ High School. In a similar incident, Nyambaria Boys’ High School in Nyamira County also suffered a dormitory fire on the morning of Tuesday, May 27. That fire broke out around 4:00 am while students were attending early morning prep classes.
Interestingly, the Onjiko dormitory fire occurred on the same day as the Saba Saba Day protests across the country.
During these protests, several businesses were looted and set on fire by individuals posing as demonstrators, highlighting the tense environment in Kenya at the time.
As investigations continue, students, parents, and education officials are calling for tighter security measures in boarding schools to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
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