A wave of unrest has forced the indefinite closure of ACK St. Luke’s Nguumo Boys High School in Makueni County after a dramatic night incident left two dormitories in ruins and property destroyed. Students have since been sent home as authorities begin investigations into what sparked the chaos.
Highlights
- Two dormitories were burnt during a night of unrest on May 25
- Students were sent home indefinitely as investigations begin
- Police intervened to restore calm at the school
- Cause of the incident remains unknown
- Rising cases of school fires continue to worry education officials
Main Story
Night of Chaos Leaves Trail of Destruction
Tension gripped ACK St. Luke’s Nguumo Boys High School in Kibwezi West after students went on a destructive spree that resulted in the burning of two dormitories. The incident, which occurred on the night of May 25, caused significant damage, leaving sections of the school in ruins.
Images from the scene reveal the extent of the destruction, with dormitory interiors blackened by fire. Burnt bed frames, scattered debris, and destroyed personal belongings paint a grim picture of what unfolded. Outside, students’ metal boxes and salvaged items were heaped together as the school assessed the damage.
Police Step In as Calm Returns
Authorities quickly responded to the situation, with police officers moving in to contain the unrest. Their intervention helped restore order, allowing school officials to begin evaluating the situation.
Despite the calm, the root cause of the unrest remains unclear, with investigations currently underway to determine what triggered the incident.
Rising Trend of School Fires Raises Alarm
The Nguumo Boys incident adds to a worrying pattern of school unrest and arson cases reported across the country since the start of the second term.
Earlier in March, a group of students from Maranda High School were arrested after being linked to a dormitory fire through CCTV footage. The suspects were apprehended while attempting to escape and later taken into police custody.
In Makueni County alone, several schools have experienced similar incidents, with some institutions forced to shut down temporarily. These repeated cases have left parents burdened with repair costs while raising serious concerns about student safety.
Government Tightens Safety Measures
The Ministry of Education has continued to sound the alarm over the increasing cases of school fires, terming them a major threat to learning institutions.
To curb the trend, schools are being pushed to comply strictly with safety guidelines, including improved fire preparedness measures. Students found responsible for such acts risk facing legal consequences and long-term disciplinary action.
