A handwritten note, hauntingly decorated with matchsticks, has surfaced, allegedly from Asumbi Girls High School, leaving parents and administrators in a state of deep alarm.
The note, addressed to the “Chief Principal and Sister Caro,” carries a stark and terrifying message written in Swahili: “Msiseme hatukuwaambia majamaa… Leo ni leo! Ofisi ya matty itawaka! Jana ilikuwa kionjo.”
The message is blunt and menacing. It translates to: “Do not say we did not tell you guys… Today is the day! The office will burn! Yesterday was just a taste.” To drive the point home, the author of the note used actual matchsticks to spell out the word “LEO” (Today).
The letter resurfaced online, hours after the school was closed indefinitely.
A Nation on Edge
This threatening discovery comes at a time when Kenya is grappling with a devastating surge in school fires. In the past few weeks alone, nearly 90 schools have been affected by unrest or arson, sparking national anxiety.
The incidents have spanned diverse counties and school categories, from prestigious national institutions to local sub-county schools.
The current climate of fear is largely rooted in the recent tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County. On the night of May 28, 2026, a horrific dormitory fire claimed the lives of 16 students and left over 70 others with serious physical injuries and trauma.
The Utumishi Tragedy
The Utumishi Girls Academy fire remains one of the most painful chapters in recent history. Survivors recounted that the blaze broke out just after midnight. Investigations later revealed that the plan to set the dormitory on fire was reportedly discussed by students around 9:00 p.m. and executed three hours later.
CCTV footage captured the grim preparations, including the acquisition of matchboxes and paraffin. Seven students were subsequently arrested and presented in a Naivasha court to face arson-related charges. The motive was allegedly linked to protests over changes to the examination timetable and other administrative grievances.
A Cycle of Crisis
The Red Cross has responded to at least 37 school fire incidents across Kenya since the beginning of 2026. These incidents are not new to the country; they are part of a grim, decades-long chronology.
In 2024, a catastrophic blaze at Hillside Endarasha Academy left 21 people dead. Historically, the deadliest fire on record occurred in 2001 at Kyanguli Secondary School, where 67 boys perished.
As the threat at Asumbi Girls High School joins this long list of warnings, stakeholders are calling for urgent interventions that go beyond punishment.With parents facing mounting financial pressures and students struggling with academic and social stress, the recurring nature of these fires suggests that the issues at hand are far deeper than school discipline alone.
