Four students arrested as Matungulu Boys is closed indefinitely over night fire

Police officers escort some of the students who were arrested for an alleged arson at Matungulu Boys secondary school in Kangundo, Machakos county, on January 26, 2026./GEORGE OWITI

Four students at Matungulu Boys Secondary School have been arrested, while dozen others were admitted to a local hospital following a fire incident at the institution in Kangundo, Machakos County.

Police arrested the four students, Monday at the school over alleged arson after their names were mentioned as suspects in the fire that razed four dormitories on Sunday night.

Following the incident, the school was indefinitely closed, and all students were sent home until further notice. Parents who visited the school after reports of the destroyed dormitories were allowed to collect their children once the closure was announced.

Authorities have since launched investigations into the incident, which left several students injured, personal belongings reduced to ashes and school property worth millions of shillings destroyed.

More than 300 students lost their beds, bedding, books, school uniforms and other personal effects in the fire, which reportedly broke out late on Sunday night.

The blaze caused heavy losses to both learners and the institution, leaving many students without necessities or dormitories to sleep in.

By the time of publication, the value of the damage had not been established.

An eyewitness said he heard students screaming at night before realising there was a fire at the school.

“I live nearby, not far from the school. I first heard students screaming before noticing the fire. When I moved closer to check, I learnt that the students were rioting. They were breaking window panes and throwing stones onto the roofs of their dormitories,” the source said.

He said the incident occurred shortly after 10 pm.

The witness said he alerted a local administrator, who reported the matter to the police by phone. According to independent sources, the dormitories had already been set ablaze before police officers arrived at the scene.

Machakos County Parents Association chairperson Sila Mutiso described the scale of destruction as overwhelming, noting that the cost of repairs would inevitably burden parents.

“The damage here is running into billions of shillings. These expenses will go back to the parents,” Mutiso said.

He urged students to exercise discipline and called for a deeper review of the challenges facing the school, citing declining academic performance.

“Education at Kangundo Boys has been going down for a few years, and as the Parents Association leadership, we now need to relook at the issue,” Mutiso said.

Police said investigations into the incident are ongoing.