A devastating fire tragedy at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County has claimed the lives of 16 students after six more deaths were reported, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Police said 74 other students sustained injuries and were admitted to various hospitals following the deadly dormitory inferno that broke out in the early hours of the morning.
The fire reportedly erupted at around 1 am in one of the school dormitories, triggering panic among students as emergency responders rushed to the scene to contain the flames and evacuate survivors.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the country, with anxious parents streaming to the school compound as rescue operations and headcounts continued throughout the day.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the incident was officially reported at around 3:30 am, prompting deployment of emergency medical teams, ambulances, and psychosocial support personnel to assist affected students and families.
“Our first responders, EMS Kenya ambulance crew and psychosocial support personnel are currently on the ground supporting affected students alongside other responders and relevant authorities,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement.
The Kenya Red Cross, in a latest update, has since confirmed that several students have been evacuated and are receiving treatment in various hospitals.
“Update: Response efforts are ongoing at Utumishi Girls Academy in Nakuru County following a fire incident. Several students have been evacuated and are receiving treatment in various hospitals. A multi-agency response involving the County Fire Brigade, County Disaster Response Teams, @PoliceKE and Kenya Red Cross remains ongoing. Kenya Red Cross deployed first responders, @EMS_Kenya ambulances, tracing and psychosocial support teams to support affected students and families,” the update reads.
Rift Valley Regional Police Commander Samuel Ndanyi confirmed the deaths, saying investigators and rescue teams were still combing through the burnt dormitory to establish the full scale of the tragedy.
The injured students were rushed to hospitals in Gilgil and Nakuru for treatment, with medical teams battling to stabilize those who suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation.
Authorities restricted access to the school as detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations launched investigations into the cause of the fire.
Police said only parents and guardians were being allowed into the institution as officials conducted a headcount and worked to identify the victims.
The cause of the inferno had not been established by Thursday evening, although investigations were ongoing.
The tragedy has reignited concerns over the rising number of school fires in Kenya, particularly in boarding institutions.
Kenya has witnessed several deadly dormitory fires over the years, including the 2017 Moi Girls School Nairobi tragedy that killed 10 students and the 2001 Kyanguli Secondary School inferno that left 67 boys dead.
In recent months alone, several schools in Nakuru and other counties have reported dormitory fires, raising fresh questions over safety standards, emergency preparedness and student welfare in boarding schools.
Leaders, parents and education stakeholders have since called for urgent nationwide safety audits in schools to prevent further tragedies.
As the country mourns the young lives lost in the Gilgil disaster, grief-stricken families gathered at hospitals and the school compound awaiting news about missing students.
The government is expected to issue a comprehensive statement as investigations continue into one of the deadliest school fire incidents in recent years.
