Speaking after arriving at the school in Gilgil, Nakuru County, Serem narrated what her daughter told her about the moments when the fire broke out inside the dormitory.
She said her daughter explained that the students did not immediately know where the fire had started, but quickly realised they were in danger as smoke and panic spread through the building.
According to Serem, the students woke each other up in confusion as they attempted to escape the burning dormitory.
“She told me they didn’t know where the fire broke out, but they woke each other up to try and escape from the fire,” she said.
The account highlights the confusion and fear that gripped students in the early moments of the incident, which occurred in the middle of the night while most learners were asleep.
The fire is reported to have broken out in one of the dormitories at around 1am on Thursday, May 28, 2026, quickly spreading through parts of the building and triggering a large-scale emergency response.
Emergency teams, including police officers, firefighters, Kenya Red Cross personnel, and medical responders, have since been deployed to the school as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Parents and guardians, including Serem, have gathered outside the institution seeking updates on their children. Many have expressed anxiety and emotional distress as authorities work to account for all students.
School administrators, working alongside emergency responders, have been conducting headcounts and verification processes to determine the number of students affected by the tragedy.
While the full extent of casualties and injuries has not yet been officially confirmed, authorities have acknowledged that lives were lost in the incident, with rescue operations still ongoing at the time of reporting.
The emotional testimony by Serem adds to growing accounts from parents and survivors describing moments of confusion, fear, and desperate attempts by students to escape the burning dormitory.
Authorities have maintained a tight security presence at the school, restricting access to the compound as investigations and emergency response efforts continue.
The Kenya Red Cross has also been assisting at the scene, providing emergency support and psychosocial care to affected students and families.