At Least Ten Students Detained in Kenya Over New School Fire

Kenyan police have arrested at least ten students in connection with a fire that broke out at Alliance High School, an all-boys institution on the outskirts of Nairobi. The blaze, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, affected a warehouse storing approximately 200 mattresses and led to the evacuation of students. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The incident at Alliance High School took place just eight days after a devastating fire at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, which claimed the lives of 16 students and left 79 injured. Following that tragedy, nine students were remanded in custody for 21 days as investigations into their alleged role in planning and executing the fire proceed.

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no student was injured

In the latest incident, Alliance High School principal David Chomba informed parents via letter that all students were safe and instructed them to collect their children, announcing an "indefinite closure of the institution following the incidents recorded at the school." While official charges have not been detailed, Kenyan media reports suggest the arrested students are linked to a planned strike.

These fires have reignited a national debate on school safety in Kenya. The Red Cross has responded to 37 such incidents since the beginning of 2026, according to The Standard newspaper. The Utumishi Girls Academy tragedy evoked memories of similar past disasters, including a 2024 fire at Hillside Endarasha Boys' Academy that killed 21 children and the 2001 Kyanguli Secondary School dormitory fire, which resulted in 67 deaths.

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indefinite closure of the institution following the incidents recorded at the school