Gilgil, Kenya — A devastating fire swept through a girls’ boarding school dormitory in central Kenya early Thursday, claiming the lives of sixteen students and leaving many others injured. Education Minister Julius Ogamba expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, extending condolences to the grieving families.
The fire at Utumishi Girls Academy erupted around 1 a.m. local time, during the night when more than 800 students were asleep. The inferno quickly engulfed a dormitory housing approximately 220 students. Firefighters, who battled the blaze, managed to bring it under control by dawn. Most injured students have since been released from local hospitals.
This incident adds to a troubling trend in Kenyan education, where more than 100 school fires have been reported this year alone. Investigations into these fires often reveal critical safety issues: overcrowded living spaces, barred windows preventing escape, and poorly designed exits. Such conditions were noted in a review by the Ministry of Education, which has struggled to implement changes effectively.
Tragic school fires are not new in Kenya. The disaster echoes the nation’s worst school fire in 2001 at Kyanguli Secondary School in Machakos County, where 67 boys lost their lives due to a fire set by two students. That incident was linked to disputes over school fees and academic grievances. More recently, a fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy resulted in the deaths of 21 pupils aged between 10 and 14, underscoring the need for improved safety measures.
Preliminary reports indicate that the current fire started on the first floor of the dormitory. As flames spread, some students leaped from upper-floor windows to escape, suffering injuries from the falls. Others fled into the surrounding area, prompting police to initiate a search operation in the hours following the blaze.
Police Commander Masoud Mwinyi confirmed that family members were searching for loved ones, expressing concern over the panic that ensued during the fire. “Our officers are currently combing the area, as some students fled in shock during the night,” he said.
Families gathered outside the school, anxiously waiting for news of their daughters. Hours after the fire was extinguished, some parents were still seeking updates, fearing for the worst. “We entrusted this school with our children, and now we don’t even know who is alive,” one parent lamented.
Roselyn Rakamba rushed to the academy upon hearing about the fire. She was relieved to learn her daughter was safe but was deeply saddened by the suffering of others. “This school community feels like family,” she said.
The Kenya Red Cross deployed first responders and psychosocial support staff to assist in the aftermath of the fire. Access to the campus was restricted as authorities began their investigation. The school is associated with the National Police Service, contributing to the emotional weight of the tragedy within the officer community.
Minister Ogamba stated that the cause of the fire remains under investigation, urging the public to avoid speculation. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen called on Kenyans to offer prayers and support to the bereaved families as search-and-rescue teams continued their efforts into the evening, trying to account for students who may have scattered during the chaos. The identities of the deceased have not yet been disclosed, pending family notifications.