At least 16 students lost their lives in a tragic overnight fire that originated in the dormitories of a girls’ boarding school, as confirmed by a government spokesperson, marking another devastating incident in the East African nation. Education Minister Julius Ogamba revealed on Thursday that 79 individuals sustained injuries at Utumishi Girls School, which accommodates over 800 students in the Gilgil region of central Kenya. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and Ogamba emphasized that authorities would launch an inquiry into whether the school had followed its fire safety protocols.
Authorities reported that rescue and emergency response operations were underway approximately 120 kilometers away from the capital city of Nairobi. Utumishi Girls School, a state-owned secondary institution, is overseen and funded by the Kenya Police Service, with a significant portion of the student body comprising the daughters of police officers.
A witness at the scene, Wambui Nderitu, recounted that one of the dormitory doors was opened by the matron without warning the children to evacuate. Sadly, the second door remained shut, leading to injuries and fatalities among the students. Incidents of school fires are not uncommon in Kenyan boarding schools, with causes ranging from arson to electrical malfunctions.
The deadliest school fire in Kenya in recent memory occurred in 2001, claiming the lives of 67 students in a dormitory blaze in Machakos County. Similarly, in 2024, 21 students perished in a school fire in central Kenya, prompting President William Ruto to declare a three-day period of mourning. In 2017, Nairobi witnessed the loss of 10 students in a school fire tragedy.