A fire broke out at Isiolo Girls High School in central Kenya on Saturday night, with authorities reporting conflicting information regarding potential casualties. This incident comes just two days after a devastating fire at another school claimed the lives of 21 boys.
Hussein Salesa, the communications director for Isiolo County, confirmed that “around two to three buildings are on fire” at the school. He added, “There are some injuries, but we cannot confirm the exact figure at the moment.”
National police spokeswoman Resila Onyango reported that the fire was first reported around 8:00 PM local time (1700 GMT). Police officers from Isiolo Sub County quickly responded to the scene, with assistance from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and fire engines from Isiolo airport. Onyango confirmed that the fire had been contained and stated no injuries were reported on the students and staff.
The Isiolo school is located about 140 kilometers (90 miles) northeast of the Hillside Endarasha Academy, where a dormitory fire tragically killed 21 boys on Thursday night.
The Kenya Red Cross, which has been involved in assisting victims and their families at Endarasha, also acknowledged the fire incident at the girls’ school and stated that “response teams [were] activated,” without providing further details.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy, with concerns about safety standards in Kenyan schools being raised by civil society groups. The recent spate of fires has prompted calls for greater scrutiny and enforcement of safety regulations to prevent further tragedies.