Nation mourns as Utumishi Girls dormitory fire claims 16, leaders demand accountability
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has joined the nation in mourning the victims of the devastating dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy that claimed the lives of 16 students and left dozens injured.
In a condolence message issued today, Uhuru expressed his sympathy to the bereaved families, students, teachers, and the wider school community following the tragedy.
“I join the nation in mourning with the families who have lost their loved ones in the tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil,” said the former Head of State.
He extended his prayers to parents and guardians grappling with the painful loss of their children and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.
“My heart goes out to the parents, guardians, students, teachers, and the entire school community during this painful time. I pray for God’s comfort and strength for every family bearing this heavy loss,” he stated.
Uhuru further prayed for eternal peace for the students who lost their lives and courage for all those affected by the tragedy.
His message came shortly after President William Ruto described the fire as a national tragedy and assured families that the government was fully engaged in rescue operations, treatment of the injured, and support for those affected.
“As a nation, we mourn with the parents, guardians, teachers, and fellow students who are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” President Ruto said.
The President confirmed that investigations had been launched to establish the cause of the fire, which broke out in a dormitory at around 12:45 a.m. on Thursday.
According to Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, 16 students lost their lives while 79 others sustained injuries. Of the injured students, 71 have since been treated and discharged, while seven remain hospitalized.
Ogamba said the school has a population of 815 students, with 808 present at the institution when the fire occurred. Seven students were away from school for various reasons.
“Out of 808 girls, 79 were injured. Seventy-one have been treated and discharged while seven remain admitted. We have 16 fatalities whose identities will be identified. The process of accounting is taking place,” said Ogamba.
Authorities said identification of the deceased is ongoing with support from the Ministry of Health and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), while investigators continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire.
A support desk has been established at the school, and parents and guardians seeking information have been urged to contact the toll-free helpline 1199.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen appealed for calm and cautioned against speculation as investigations continue.
“Let’s not be speculative at this stage. We have a school safety manual that all schools are required to adhere to. Let us wait for investigations to determine whether the guidelines were followed,” said Murkomen.
He noted that a multi-agency crisis response team comprising officials from the Ministries of Interior, Education and Health, the Nakuru County Government and the Kenya Red Cross Society had been deployed to coordinate rescue efforts and provide support to affected families.
Meanwhile, Gender and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo said the State Department for Children Services had activated emergency child protection mechanisms to support affected children and families.
“The State Department for Children Services has deployed Children Officers and Child Protection personnel to coordinate immediate interventions, including safeguarding affected children, supporting family tracing and reunification, and ensuring emergency child protection services are provided,” she said.
However, the tragedy has also triggered political criticism, with the opposition-linked Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) demanding accountability from government officials.
Speaking on behalf of the party, Nyandarua Senator Joe Methu, who serves as the party’s acting Secretary-General, called for the immediate censure of Education CS Julius Ogamba and the resignation of Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen, accusing the government of failing in disaster preparedness and response.
“We send our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families and parents who have lost their loved ones. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and those in hospitals. No parent should go through such pain and ordeal. No child deserves to lose their future full of great potential,” said Methu.
The senator argued that repeated school disasters, including past incidents at St. Kizito, Kyanguli Boys and Hillside Endarasha Academy, point to systemic failures in school safety and emergency preparedness.
DCP further questioned the effectiveness of the country’s disaster response structures and accused government officials of failing to act swiftly after being informed of the tragedy.
The party has formally demanded parliamentary action against the Education CS and the resignation of the Interior CS, arguing that accountability is necessary following the deaths of the students.
The Utumishi Girls Academy fire has reignited national concerns over safety standards in boarding schools, with growing calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations, improved emergency preparedness, and stronger disaster response mechanisms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
