Panic As Fire Breaks Out At Ortum Boys High School [VIDEO]

A fire erupted on Monday, September 9 at Ortum Boys High School in Pokot South constituency, West Pokot County, raising alarm bells as this is the fourth high school to report a fire outbreak in less than a week.

Videos circulating online showed the students, donning black trousers and grey sweaters, fleeing the scene in a state of panic as a huge plume of smoke emanated from their dormitories.

Some could be seen salvaging their belongings including mattresses as the blaze, reported to have begun at around 9.00 am, spread throughout the rest of the other dormitories after engulfing the main one, causing panic.

Here is the video:

Students scamper for safety amidst fire outbreak at Ortum Boys High School in Pokot South constituency, West Pokot County.

The fourth such outbreak since the Hillside Endarasha Academy tragedypic.twitter.com/oDO6UZVkLq — Marvin Chege (@marvin_chege10) September 9, 2024

With an official report from the school and the police yet to be released by the time of going to press regarding what caused the fire and if there are any casualties, concern is mounting over the number of school fires that have erupted since the Hillside Endarasha Academy tragedy.

Local authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, with preliminary reports pointing to a possible electrical fault as what ignited the inferno.

The latest fire incident raises serious concerns regarding the emerging trend of school fires in the Third Term across the country.

Since the night of Thursday, September 5 with the Hillside Endarasha Academy which has so far claimed 21 lives, three schools have reported fire incidents this week.

In fact, two of them occurred during this entire weekend; on Saturday a fire at Isiolo Girls High School led to students sustaining injuries. On Sunday, Njia Boys Secondary School in Igembe, Meru County had one of its dormitories razed down.

Education officials and other stakeholders have since called for thorough inspections and enhanced safety protocols to prevent future incidents.

Dagoretti North MP, Beatrice Elachi, on Monday, called for the total abolishment of primary boarding schools in the country to avert repeats of the Endarasha tragedy, reviving a long-standing debate as to whether boarding schools should continue to exist in Kenya in light of rampant fire tragedies.

‘’No primary school should be a boarding institution. Let parents take care of their children till they reach high school,’’ Elachi stated.

Administration block at Hillside Endarasha Academy. /PHOTO