All boarding schools in Gatundu South shut down indefinitely
By Kiprono Keileb, September 7, 2025All boarding schools in Gatundu South, Kiambu County, have been closed indefinitely after a wave of arson attacks swept through the constituency, destroying dormitories and key facilities in at least four schools within one week.
The decision was reached as fears mounted that the attacks, which appear coordinated, could escalate further if learning continued under the current circumstances.
Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe, on Sunday, September 7, 2025, confirmed the closures, saying the decision was necessary to prevent further destruction.
“Tumekuwa na mambo mengi ya moto na hivyo tumeafikiana watoto wote wa shule za mabweni kwanza waende nyumbani ndiposa tuweze kufanya upelelezi kwa kina ndio tuweze kujua ni wapi na ni nani anayepanga mambo haya,” said Kagombe.
The arson incidents have left parents, teachers, and education officials shaken, with fears over the safety of students and the long-term disruption of academic programs in the constituency.
Four schools affected
In the past week alone, four institutions have lost dormitories and other school structures to suspicious fires, raising alarm among administrators and residents. Kagombe noted that intelligence reports suggest the fires are not isolated accidents but part of a wider, organised scheme.
The MP stressed that the priority now is safeguarding students while investigations take place. He explained that sending learners home was a painful but necessary choice to ensure lives are not endangered while the community and authorities move to establish the source of the attacks.
Education stakeholders in Kiambu have echoed these concerns, saying the closure will allow the investigations to be done. Parents, though worried about their children’s interrupted studies, have also voiced support for the decision, noting that safety must come first.
The closure has also drawn attention to the influence of social media in fuelling unrest among students. Kagombe revealed that the intelligence gathered so far points to online platforms being used to coordinate the arson plots.
“Tumepata information ya kwamba ni mambo yanapangwa kupitia mitandao ya kijamii,” Kagombe added.
This revelation has sparked calls for tighter monitoring of digital spaces and sensitisation of students on responsible use of technology.
As investigations proceed, authorities say schools will remain closed until security agencies and education leaders are satisfied that the risk has been neutralised.
For now, families in Gatundu South are left grappling with uncertainty as they wait for answers on who is behind the fires and how soon normal learning will resume.