At least one pupil has died and several others are critically injured after strong winds tore through Pascal Academy in Nakuru East, Nakuru County, destroying classrooms on Friday, January 16.
Eyewitnesses say the winds hit the school compound in the afternoon while pupils were inside, ripping off classroom roofs and collapsing some of the temporary structures. Desks, learning materials, and debris were scattered across the classrooms and playfield, illustrating the scale of the damage.
As the winds grew stronger, teachers and pupils panicked, rushing to safety as debris rained down. The collapse resulted in the death of a pupil and left others injured. Community members and emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene to help the affected learners, many of whom live nearby.
Residents report that Pascal Academy is a newly established school built on land prone to cyclones, raising concerns over the decision to locate it in such a vulnerable area. Injured pupils were immediately taken to nearby hospitals, and investigations are underway to determine the full circumstances of the incident.
The tragedy has reignited fears about the safety of schoolchildren, particularly as learners had just resumed the first term following the reopening of schools last week.
The incident follows warnings from the Kenya Meteorological Department, which advised residents across several regions – including the Coast, Rift Valley, Nyanza, and parts of Western and Central Kenya – to prepare for strong winds exceeding 25 knots (12.5 m/s) between January 14 and 20. The department cautioned that these winds could cause significant damage, from collapsing buildings and uprooting trees to maritime hazards.