NAKURU, Kenya — Sixteen students have been confirmed dead after a devastating fire tore through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, about 120 kilometres west of Nairobi, in one of Kenya’s most serious school tragedies in recent years.
Authorities said the fire broke out in the early hours of Thursday while students were asleep, rapidly engulfing a first-floor dormitory block that was later declared completely destroyed.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who visited the scene, confirmed that 71 students had been discharged from hospital, while seven others remained admitted for further treatment following the blaze.
“The response teams managed to put out the fire by about 03:00, but by then the damage had already been done,” Ogamba said. He added that the school would begin releasing students to their parents and guardians as investigations continue into the cause of the fire.
Police said search-and-rescue operations were ongoing, with officers still accounting for students who may have fled the scene in panic during the night.
According to initial police reports, the fire broke out around 01:00 local time (22:00 GMT Wednesday) and quickly spread through a dormitory housing approximately 220 students.
“We are still carrying out a full search of the surrounding area because some students ran away in shock during the chaos,” said Gilgil police commander Masoud Mwinyi. “It is a sad and distressing situation.”
Mwinyi added that the school had been cordoned off, with only parents allowed into the compound as authorities attempted to manage the unfolding crisis and reunification process.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also visited the school and expressed condolences to bereaved families, urging calm as investigations continue.
“It’s a very anxious moment and even as we account for the 16 so far identified as having passed on, I ask Kenyans to stand with the families in prayer and support,” Murkomen said. “I urge everyone to be patient and avoid speculation.”
Emergency teams from the Kenya Red Cross and other agencies remained on the ground assisting with rescue coordination and psychosocial support for affected families.
Outside the school gates, emotional scenes unfolded as parents gathered desperately seeking information about their children. One relative, Wambui Nderitu, said families were met with confusion and fear upon arrival.
“When we arrived at the school we were told to queue. Most of us were so worried because we had heard some students had died and others were injured and in hospital,” she said.
She added that some students sustained injuries while attempting to escape the burning building.
“Some of those at the top floor had to jump out, that’s why they are injured,” she said, adding that her cousin survived but suffered a broken leg.
Cause of fire still unknown as investigations intensify
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire. Police said investigations were ongoing and all possibilities—including electrical fault, structural failure, or arson—remain open.
The Ministry of Education and security agencies are expected to conduct a joint forensic inquiry into the incident, including inspection of dormitory infrastructure and compliance with fire safety regulations.
A recurring national tragedy: Kenya’s school fire crisis
The Gilgil tragedy has reopened long-standing concerns over fire safety in Kenyan boarding schools, which have recorded multiple deadly incidents over the past two decades.
One of the worst disasters occurred in 2001 in Kyanguli Secondary School in Machakos County, where 67 students died after a dormitory fire believed to have been deliberately set by students.
More recently, in 2024, at least 21 students died in a dormitory fire in central Kenya, reigniting national debate over safety standards in boarding institutions.
Government records and parliamentary submissions have previously shown the scale of the crisis. In November 2021, the Ministry of Education reported to Parliament that 126 cases of school arson had been recorded between January and November 2020 alone.
Earlier research also indicated that around 60 arson cases were recorded in 2018, underscoring the persistence of the problem.
Also Read: Nine-year-old girl dies in Limuru house fire while parents attend funeral
Over the years, overcrowded dormitories, poor enforcement of safety guidelines, blocked exits, and student unrest have all been cited as contributing factors in both accidental fires and deliberate arson cases.
National questions on safety and enforcement
While successive governments have issued directives requiring fire extinguishers, evacuation drills, and regular safety inspections in boarding schools, enforcement gaps remain a major concern.
Experts have repeatedly warned that many institutions fail to comply fully with fire safety standards, particularly in rural and high-capacity boarding schools.
As investigations into the Gilgil fire continue, families of the victims are left awaiting answers, while the country once again confronts a familiar and devastating pattern of school tragedies.
