A fire erupted on the second floor of a main dormitory at Tengecha Boys High School in Kericho on the evening of Sunday, 4 October 2026, spreading quickly across the floor.

Thick smoke rose from the building, prompting students, staff and nearby residents to join emergency efforts to contain the blaze and prevent it from reaching other school structures.

Local community members were seen assisting with fire‑fighting, as images and videos from the scene showed residents helping to bring the situation under control.

Although the flames proved difficult to contain at times, combined efforts eventually limited the fire to the affected floor, preventing spread to other parts of the school.

The second‑floor dormitory sustained severe damage, with windows and other infrastructure extensively destroyed.

At the time of reporting, no injuries to learners had been reported.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigations are underway to determine its origin.

Recent dormitory fire trend in Kenyan schools

The incident adds to a series of recent dormitory fires in Kenyan high schools, with several outbreaks reported in the months leading up to October 2026.

Stakeholders have noted a spike in dormitory fires toward the end of school terms, suggesting a possible link to heightened activity around end‑of‑term assessments.

A similar fire occurred on 26 August at Kirwara Boys High School in Gatanga, Murang’a County, which also destroyed a nearby school bus.