By Anchor Writer
Machakos School has been closed indefinitely after a fire gutted part of a dormitory on Thursday night.
The fire destroyed students’ property and triggered investigations into what authorities suspect was an act of arson by students.
The fire broke out in Musau House Junior Dormitory, which accommodates approximately 130 students, prompting an emergency response by the school’s administration and security agencies.
No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Police have detained 13 students who are being investigated over the incident. Authorities suspect the boys may have been involved in starting the fire, although investigations were still ongoing by Friday evening.
The closure comes amid heightened tension at the institution following a controversial football dispute that saw Machakos School’s soccer team lose and later regain the Machakos Central Zonal title through an appeal before suffering a crushing defeat in a replay.
According to information circulating among education stakeholders, Machakos School had initially lost the zonal soccer final 1-0 to Kathekakai Secondary School.
However, the school successfully appealed after Kathekakai was found to have fielded an ineligible player.
The appeal resulted in a replay of the final, which was held on Wednesday.
In the rematch, Machakos School suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat, ending its hopes of advancing, leaving the boys in a battered state.
While authorities have not linked the fire to the football events, the blaze occurred barely a day after the replay match.
In a communication sent to parents on Friday, Chief Principal B.S. Manoo confirmed the fire incident and announced an early midterm break.
“We had a fire incident in one of our dormitories that damaged parts of the structure and some student items,” the principal said.
He assured parents that no casualties had been reported and that students remained calm.
“In consultation with the Board of Management and the Ministry of Education, you are directed to pick up your son today for the earlier planned midterm break as we investigate the unfortunate incident,” the notice stated.
Parents were further advised to ensure students remain engaged with academic work while at home as the school awaits the outcome of investigations and assessment of the damage.
Sources indicated that the Board of Management met on Friday and resolved to close the institution indefinitely to allow investigations, repairs and restoration of normalcy.
The extent of the damage to the dormitory and the value of property lost had not been officially disclosed by the time of publication.
The incident adds to a growing list of school fires reported in Kenyan secondary schools over recently many of them linked to student unrest, disciplinary disputes, examination pressure and resistance to school regulations.
Education officials and police are expected to issue further statements once investigations are completed and a determination is made on the cause of the fire.
Hundreds of students were seen leaving one of the region’s leading national schools as it grapples with the aftermath of a night that left a dormitory damaged, students displaced and questions lingering over what exactly sparked the blaze.
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