Former LSK President Calls for Urgent Action After Nakuru School Fire

Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo called for urgent national action following a fire that razed buildings at Jomo Kenyatta Boys High School in Bahati, Nakuru County.

The fire broke out early Monday morning after student unrest at the school, destroying property of unknown value. Preliminary reports linked the blaze to the unrest, though the exact circumstances leading to the incident were not immediately clear.

Police officers and firefighters were dispatched to contain the blaze but reportedly encountered difficulties as the flames spread across the compound. The cause of the fire had not been established at the time of writing, and authorities were yet to assess the full extent of the damage.

Odhiambo described the Bahati incident as part of a broader pattern of unrest, arson and violent protest in schools across the country, rather than an isolated case. She said such incidents point to breakdowns in discipline and unresolved grievances within learning institutions.

The incident comes amid renewed concern over student unrest nationally, with more than 200 schools reported to have been affected by fire incidents in recent weeks.

Other recent cases include a dormitory fire at Chianda Boys High School in Siaya and unrest that led to the indefinite closure of Kapenguria Boys High School after a dormitory, mattress store and library were set alight.

Odhiambo urged the Ministry of Education, school boards, parents and student leaders to treat the wave of fires as an urgent national concern. She called for thorough investigation of each incident alongside stronger safeguards for school infrastructure and student welfare.