The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that a fire broke out at Tarakwo High School in Bomet County on the night of Monday, June 1, 2026, marking the fifth school fire incident reported in the country since the tragic blaze at Utumishi Girls’ Academy that claimed the lives of 16 students last week, on Friday, May 28, 2026.

In a statement on their X handle on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, the Kenya Red Cross Society said that there were no casualties following the incident and that its emergency response teams were deployed to the school following the incident and are currently on the ground assessing the situation and providing support to the affected community.

“While thankfully no casualties were reported last night, these ongoing incidents remind us how urgent school fire prevention and safety measures are. We are on the ground in Bomet to assess needs and support the community,” Kenya Red Cross noted in a statement.

“Last night, the Kenya Red Cross responded to a school fire at Tarakwo High School in Bomet County. This is now the fifth fire incident since the tragic Utumishi Girls Academy fire,” the statement added.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, a total of 37 school fire incidents have been recorded and responded to since the beginning of the year across various counties, raising questions about safety standards and preparedness in learning institutions.

Since the beginning of the year, the Kenya Red Cross has responded to 37 school fire incidents across multiple counties.

Other schools affected

Among other schools affected after the Utumishi Girls’ Academy are Gacharage Secondary School in Murang’a County and St Joseph Seminary Boys’ School in Nakuru County.

While none of the subsequent incidents resulted in fatalities, there have been renewed calls for urgent inspections of school infrastructure and dormitory safety measures.

The Kenya Red Cross emphasised that the recurring incidents serve as a reminder of the urgent need to strengthen fire prevention strategies and safety protocols in educational institutions to protect learners and staff.