One of the dormitories that got burned at Matungulu Boys' High School on January 26, 2026. Photo by Andrew Mbuva 
By Andrew Mbuva
Several students are receiving treatment at Kangundo Level 4 Hospital in Machakos County after sustaining injuries during a fire incident that broke out in the early hours of today at Matungulu Boys High School.
The inferno, whose cause is yet to be established, destroyed three dormitories, leaving more than 300 students affected. Boxes containing books, bedding, and other personal belongings were reduced to ashes, dealing a major blow to learners and parents alike.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have since visited the school as investigations into the cause of the fire commence.
Speaking at the scene, a neighbour of the school, Joash Mulwa, expressed deep sadness over the incident and called on parents to actively engage their children in dialogue to help address emerging challenges in schools.
The incident has reignited debate around student discipline and the declining performance of schools in the Kangundo and Matungulu sub-counties. Kangundo Sub County Parents Association Chairperson Sila Mutiso, termed the fire a clear manifestation of indiscipline in learning institutions.
“This is not a good situation at all. What we are witnessing here is a clear case of indiscipline,” Mutiso said. “I want to sincerely appeal to parents to talk to their children—both boys and girls. When they go to school, they must maintain discipline. They went to school to study and secure their future.”
He warned against drug and substance abuse among students, as well as acts of unrest often disguised as demands for rights, noting that parents ultimately bear the financial burden of destroyed property.
“Parents are the ones who will pay for this destruction, and that is the plain truth,” he added.
Mutiso further linked the incident to the steady decline in academic performance in the region, citing poor Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results in recent years as a worrying trend.
“Education standards in Kangundo have been going down for the last few years. What you are seeing here is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said, calling for urgent introspection by education stakeholders.
He challenged the Sub-county Director of Education to take responsibility and openly engage parents and other stakeholders to address the underlying issues.
“The buck stops with you, Mr. Sub-county Director. Tell us what is wrong. Inform parents and all stakeholders. We want to sit down together and find solutions,” Mutiso said. “Parents pay school fees, and we have ideas that can bring Kangundo back to where it was.”
As investigations continue, parents and education leaders are now calling for stronger collaboration between schools, education authorities, and families to restore discipline, improve academic outcomes, and prevent similar incidents in the future.
