Dormitory Fire Destroys Cardinal Otunga High School Property

A dormitory at Cardinal Otunga High School in Mosocho, Kisii County, was gutted by fire on Thursday evening, January 9, 2025. The incident occurred around 6 PM, just two days after students resumed classes for the new term.

Witnesses reported that the fire spread quickly, destroying the dormitory as students and staff watched in distress. Firefighters from the Kisii County Government arrived promptly and, with assistance from locals and students, managed to extinguish the flames.

Footage circulating on social media depicted the dormitory engulfed in thick smoke, with firefighters battling the blaze. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Speaking after the incident, school officials announced that investigations were underway to determine the cause of the fire, which they suspect might have been an act of arson.

This incident coincided with the release of the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba. Speculation on social media suggested a possible link between the fire and the school’s KCSE performance, although no evidence has been presented to support this claim.

During the KCSE results announcement, CS Ogamba revealed that 962,512 candidates sat for the exams, marking an increase from the 899,453 in 2023. The CS also noted that results for 840 candidates were canceled due to examination irregularities.

Additionally, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) announced plans to conduct mid-year KCSE exams in July for candidates who missed last year’s examinations. Students and parents can access the KCSE results via the KNEC online portal at https://results.knec.ac.ke/.

No further updates on the fire incident have been issued.