Gilgil, Kenya – A devastating fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil early on May 28 claimed the lives of 16 students and left 79 others injured, in what authorities have described as a national tragedy.
The blaze, which started around 1 a.m., exposed glaring safety lapses at the boarding school and has prompted urgent calls for reforms in school safety nationwide.
According to investigators, the fire was deliberately set. Closed-circuit television footage from the school’s hallways shows suspects piling mattresses, dousing them in paraffin, and lighting them before fleeing the premises.
The incident has raised serious concerns about security measures at the school, including how unauthorized individuals were able to access the dormitory area during the night.
The fire erupted in one of the school’s dormitory blocks, where overcrowding compounded the disaster. More than 200 girls were crammed into the building, many sleeping in hallways on bunk beds due to insufficient dormitory space.
Locked exits and window grills prevented students from escaping, trapping many in the rapidly spreading smoke and flames. Survivors recount scenes of panic as they struggled to find ways out while the fire consumed their rooms.
Emergency responders were called to the scene, and injured students were rushed to nearby hospitals. Medical teams reported treating burn injuries, smoke inhalation, and other trauma-related conditions.
Several students remain in critical condition, while counselors have been deployed to provide psychological support for survivors and the families of victims.
In response to the tragedy, the Ministry of Education swiftly dissolved the school’s board, citing gross negligence in ensuring student safety.
Government officials have indicated that the board failed to enforce regulations on dormitory capacity, fire safety infrastructure, and secure exits. Authorities have launched investigations to determine criminal liability, both for those who set the fire and for individuals responsible for the school’s oversight.
President William Ruto described the fire as “a national tragedy” and pledged that the government would take decisive action to prevent similar incidents.
In a public statement, he emphasized that ensuring safe learning environments for all students is a top priority and called for immediate improvements in school infrastructure, fire prevention systems, and emergency preparedness protocols.
The Utumishi Girls Academy fire has sparked nationwide discussions on student safety and regulatory enforcement. Education experts and child-rights advocates have highlighted longstanding concerns about overcrowded dormitories, lack of functional fire alarms, and inadequate emergency evacuation procedures in schools across Kenya.
CCTV footage, now part of the investigation, has been central in reconstructing the events leading to the fire. The visual evidence shows the deliberate ignition of mattresses and the subsequent spread of flames through the overcrowded dormitory.
Officials have underscored the need for improved surveillance, fire alarm systems, and secure but accessible exit routes to ensure that future incidents are prevented.
Parents and community members are calling for swift justice and comprehensive reforms. “We cannot allow our children to sleep in unsafe dormitories while schools operate without proper fire safety measures,” said one parent whose child survived the blaze.
Local leaders are pushing for national guidelines mandating fire drills, proper spacing in boarding facilities, and strict adherence to safety standards.
As investigations continue, authorities are working to identify and apprehend the individuals responsible for starting the fire. Meanwhile, the nation mourns the lives lost in Gilgil and grapples with the urgent need to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The Utumishi fire has become a stark reminder that beyond academics, student safety must be a fundamental priority for schools and regulators alike.