A late-night fire on Wednesday destroyed the administration block of Tharaka University in Tharaka Nithi County, leaving behind massive losses but, fortunately, no casualties. Authorities confirmed that no staff or students were injured during the incident.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established, but preliminary reports point to a possible electrical fault. Investigations have already been launched to determine the root cause of the blaze.
Emergency Response Criticized
The incident has triggered sharp criticism of the Tharaka Nithi County government over what many described as a slow and uncoordinated response from emergency services. Witnesses reported that the fire spread for a prolonged period before firefighting units managed to contain it, increasing the scale of destruction.
A Young Institution Hit Hard
Tharaka University, one of Kenya’s youngest public universities, has been in operation for less than a decade. It was established in 2017 as a constituent college of Chuka University before being awarded a full charter in 2022.
The fire now raises fresh questions about the preparedness of institutions of higher learning to handle disasters. The administration block, being the nerve center of university operations, is expected to impact critical services such as records management, finance, and student affairs.
Fires in Other Universities
The tragedy adds Tharaka University to a growing list of higher learning institutions in Kenya that have been affected by devastating fires in recent years.
- In January 2024, the University of Nairobi lost part of its historic Gandhi Wing to a fire.
- In May 2023, Kenyatta University’s Old Moi Library was gutted, destroying departmental offices.
- In October 2023, the University of East Africa, Baraton, experienced a fire in a women’s dormitory.
As investigations continue, calls are mounting for enhanced fire safety measures, better-equipped county emergency services, and regular safety audits to protect lives and infrastructure in Kenya’s universities.
