Kahuhia Girls High School in Murang’a County closed indefinitely on Friday after school officials reviewed CCTV footage that reportedly showed a student trying to syphon fuel from the institution’s generator. The Muranga school shutdown triggered concern among parents, teachers, and local leaders as police and education officers began investigations into the disturbing late-night incident.
Fear spread quickly through Kahuhia village after news broke that Kahuhia Girls High School had sent students home following a troubling security incident linked to the school generator.
Parents gathered outside the school gate early Friday morning. Some looked confused. Others looked angry. Motorbikes lined the roadside as families rushed to pick up students after administrators announced the indefinite closure.
The school sits in Murang’a County, nearly 85 kilometres from Nairobi. On most weekdays, the compound stays noisy with class bells, morning songs, and students chatting between lessons. Friday felt different.
School officials said CCTV cameras captured a student attempting to syphon fuel from the generator during the night. Sources familiar with the matter said staff discovered suspicious movement near the power unit before reviewing surveillance recordings.
Police officers later visited the school compound. One parent who arrived shortly after sunrise said the atmosphere felt tense from the moment she entered the gate.
“I saw teachers speaking in low tones and students standing in groups,” said Jane Wanjiru from Kangema. “People were scared because nobody understood the full story yet.”
Administrators did not publicly identify the student involved because she is a minor. Education officers from Murang’a County also avoided discussing disciplinary details while investigations continue.
Why did Kahuhia Girls High School close
School administrators closed the institution after CCTV footage reportedly showed a student attempting to syphon fuel from the school generator.
Teachers at the school reportedly held emergency meetings late Thursday night before informing county education officials about the incident. By Friday morning, buses and private vehicles had started arriving to collect students.
Several parents questioned how the situation reached such a dangerous point.
Fuel syphoning carries serious risks. Petrol and diesel can ignite within seconds, especially near generators that produce heat and electrical sparks. Fire officers in Murang’a County said even a small mistake could trigger an explosion inside a crowded institution.
One local official familiar with school safety procedures described the incident as deeply worrying.
“You are dealing with teenagers, electricity, fuel, and dormitories close together,” the official said in Murang’a town on Friday afternoon. “A small accident could turn tragic very fast like what happened in Gilgil last week.”
Data from the Ministry of Education shows Kenya recorded more than 120 school fire incidents between 2016 and 2024. Several of those cases involved dormitories and electrical areas. Safety concerns have remained high since the deadly Moi Girls’ School fire in Nairobi on September 2, 2017, killed 10 students and injured many others.
Kahuhia Girls’ CCTV incident sparks parents’ concerns.
Parents in Murang’a demanded answers after the CCTV incident forced students to leave school abruptly.
Outside nearby shopping centres in Kahuhia and Kangari, residents spent most of Friday discussing the closure. Shopkeepers leaned against counters while matatu drivers exchanged rumours about what might have happened before the footage surfaced.
Some residents blamed pressure inside boarding schools. Others blamed weak counselling systems.
A former teacher from Murang’a South said schools now face growing discipline and mental health challenges among teenagers.
“Many students carry stress that adults do not always see,” he said. “Teachers must pay attention early before situations grow dangerous.”
Students who left the school Friday morning appeared shaken. A few hugged classmates before boarding vehicles home. Some avoided speaking to reporters altogether.
One student quietly described the confusion inside the dormitories after teachers informed learners about the closure.
“Everybody started packing quickly,” she said softly while waiting near the gate. “People were asking each other what had happened.”
County education officers said they will inspect the school and review security measures before deciding when classes can resume. Investigators are also expected to examine whether the student acted alone and how she gained access to the generator area during the night.
Meanwhile, parents now wait anxiously for answers. By Friday evening, the school compound had nearly emptied. Wind pushed dust across the quiet field near the administration block. A lone security guard stood near the locked gate as curious residents slowed down to stare inside. For many families in Murang’a County, the sudden shutdown left behind more questions than answers.