Fires have ravaged dormitories in two high schools in Machakos and Makueni counties within a day, prompting police investigations. No student injuries were reported in either incident, though property damage was extensive.

• On Friday morning, a dormitory at Mbooni Boys High School in Makueni County was destroyed; the cause remains unknown.
• The previous evening, September 11, a fire at Mumbuni Girls Secondary School in Machakos destroyed part of a two-storey dormitory, with firefighters from Machakos County containing the blaze.
• Machakos Deputy County Commissioner David Rotich confirmed no casualties, though a few students treated for shock at Machakos Level 5 Hospital were discharged.
• These incidents follow a suspected arson attack on a dormitory at Cheptenye Boys High School in Kericho County on Thursday afternoon, which housed over 100 students.

A new report by the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) reveals that the vast majority of Kenyan schools are exposed to significant risks due to a severe lack of non-motor insurance coverage. This puts millions of students, teachers, and critical infrastructure in peril, with only a small fraction of schools adequately insured against common disasters.

• Over 85% of primary and secondary schools in Kenya lack non-motor insurance, meaning only 6,784 out of 46,322 registered schools had coverage by the end of 2023.
• The AKI report highlights common uninsured risks such as fire, burglary, personal accidents, and public liability, with financial constraints and a lack of regulatory requirements cited as major barriers.
• Most schools also lack basic safety infrastructure like fire extinguishers and proper asset registers, making risk assessment difficult for insurers, while many administrators operate under the false assumption that external aid will cover disaster costs.

A dormitory at Cheptenye Boys High School in Kericho County was destroyed by a fire on Thursday afternoon, leaving over 100 students stranded. Local authorities have launched an investigation into the mysterious blaze, which occurred while students were in lessons, with no injuries reported.

• The fire at Cheptenye Boys High School is believed to have started around 2 p.m.
• The incident at Cheptenye Boys has raised concerns about frequent school fires across Kenya.
• Just last week, a dormitory fire at Otieno Oyoo Secondary School in Kisumu County injured at least one student.