Kenya Mourns as 16 students die in utumishi girls academy dormitory fire

Our Correspondence, Kenya

GILGIL, KENYA — Kenya is mourning following a devastating overnight fire at Utumishi Girls Academy, which has claimed the lives of at least 16 students and left 79 others injured in one of the country's deadliest school tragedies in recent years.

According to Kenyan authorities, the blaze erupted shortly after midnight on Thursday in a dormitory housing more than 200 students at the government-owned boarding school in Gilgil, approximately 120 kilometers northwest of Nairobi. 

Emergency responders battled the fire for more than two hours as students desperately tried to escape.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed the death toll and said 79 students suffered injuries ranging from burns to fractures sustained while fleeing the flames.

Officials reported that most of the injured have since been discharged from the hospital, while several remain under medical care.

The school, sponsored and managed by the Kenya Police Service, primarily serves daughters of police officers, adding to the emotional impact of the tragedy on the country's security community. 

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen urged the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue into the cause of the fire.

Rescue Efforts and Family Anguish

The Kenya Red Cross swiftly deployed emergency teams, offering medical assistance, family tracing services, and psychological support to affected students and their relatives. 

Hundreds of anxious parents gathered outside the school seeking information about their daughters as rescue and accountability efforts continued throughout the day.

Witness accounts indicate that some students were forced to jump from upper floors to escape the flames.

 Reports have also raised questions about evacuation procedures and dormitory safety measures, though authorities have not confirmed any specific failures pending the official investigation.

Renewed Focus on School Safety

The tragedy has reignited concerns about fire safety in Kenyan boarding schools. The incident comes less than two years after the deadly Hillside Endarasha Academy Fire, which killed 21 boys in Nyeri County.

 Authorities have recorded numerous school fires over the past decade, prompting repeated calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations and emergency preparedness standards.

President William Ruto and other national leaders have expressed condolences to the families affected and pledged support for the ongoing investigation and recovery efforts