By Bradley Nandasaba, Nakuru
Questions abound over the safety and wellbeing of students in Kenyan boarding schools following a deadly fire outbreak at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, that claimed the lives of 16 students and left 79 others injured.
The tragedy, which unfolded in the early hours of the morning, has reignited concerns over safety standards in schools, emergency preparedness and the enforcement of regulations designed to protect learners.
According to police reports, the fire broke out at around 12:45 a.m. in the Meline Waithera dormitory, which housed more than 200 students. Emergency responders battled the blaze for nearly two hours before bringing it under control, but by then extensive damage had already been done.
The incident has sparked national outrage, with many Kenyans questioning whether adequate measures were in place to prevent such a disaster and whether authorities responded swiftly enough to save lives.
Survivors recounted harrowing moments as students woke up to thick smoke and raging flames. In the panic that followed, some reportedly jumped from upper-floor windows after finding escape routes blocked, sustaining injuries in the process.
Parents arriving at the school were met with confusion and anxiety as authorities worked to account for all students. Some spent hours waiting for information about the whereabouts of their children.
Roselyn Rakamba, whose 14-year-old daughter studies at the school, described the ordeal as traumatic after receiving news of the fire in the early hours of the morning.
“I am happy now because my daughter survived with minor injuries, but my heart is with the families who lost their children. In this school, we live like one family,” she said.
Wambui Nderitu, whose cousin is a student at the institution, said many of the injured sustained fractures and other injuries while trying to escape through windows.
“When we arrived, everyone was worried because we had heard that some students had died while others had been taken to hospital,” she said..
Investigations have since taken a dramatic turn. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced that preliminary findings point to a suspected arson attack. Detectives have identified and arrested eight students believed to be persons of interest in connection with the fire.
According to investigators, intensive interviews are being conducted with students, teachers and witnesses, while forensic experts continue analysing CCTV footage, burn patterns and other evidence to establish the exact cause and motive of the tragedy.
Preliminary findings by the Ministry of Education have also revealed serious safety concerns, including reports of overcrowding in the dormitory and a locked emergency exit at the time of the fire. Authorities further disclosed that two teachers had allegedly been informed of a possible plan to start the fire but failed to take preventive action.
The tragedy has also drawn sharp reactions from political leaders, with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna renewing calls for accountability and urgent reforms in Kenya’s boarding schools.
Speaking on Saturday, May 30, 2026, Sifuna questioned the apparent failures that may have contributed to the disaster and challenged authorities to explain why basic safety standards were not enforced.
“We are also here in Bungoma during a time of national mourning following the tragedy at Utumishi School,” he said.
The senator cited reports indicating that about 200 students were accommodated in a dormitory designed to hold only 100 learners. He further alleged that the dormitory door had been locked during the incident and that the person responsible for the key could not be immediately located.
“These are questions that must be answered. If the reports are true, then there was a serious failure in ensuring the safety of these children,” Sifuna said.
Following the revelations, the government dissolved the school’s Board of Management and announced that disciplinary and legal action would be taken against any staff found culpable of negligence.
The bodies of the 16 victims have since been transferred to the Naivasha Sub-County Referral Hospital mortuary, where post-mortem examinations and formal identification processes are ongoing.
The DCI and the National Police Service have conveyed their condolences to the bereaved families and assured Kenyans that investigations will be conducted impartially and thoroughly.
The tragedy has reignited debate about safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools, with critics pointing to a history of fatal school fires linked to overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure and poor emergency preparedness.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto has highlighted the recently enacted National Disaster Risk Management law, which establishes new structures for coordinating emergency response and disaster preparedness across both national and county governments.
