Authorities have confirmed that 16 students have died following a devastating fire incident at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, as efforts to identify the victims and account for all learners continue.
Speaking on the tragedy, Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba said that the school, which had a total of 808 girls, was severely affected by the incident, with dozens of students injured and receiving medical attention across different health facilities.
According to the CS, 79 students sustained injuries in the fire. Of these, 71 have already been treated and discharged, while seven remain admitted in hospital receiving further care.
Medical teams have described the condition of the admitted students as stable but requiring close monitoring.
CS Ogamba further confirmed that the identification process for the 16 confirmed fatalities has commenced, noting that authorities are working closely with security agencies, forensic teams, and hospital officials to establish the identities of the deceased students.
“The process of accounting for all learners is ongoing as investigations into the cause of the fire continue,” he said.
Emergency response teams were deployed to the school immediately after the incident, with police, fire brigade units, and local administration working through the night to contain the situation and assist in rescue and recovery operations.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire, stating that investigations are underway to determine whether it was accidental or caused by other factors, with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen urging Kenyans to be patient to avoid speculation.
“Most of the children who school here are children of our officers serving in the National Police Service. As a ministry and family, we stand with everyone. Be patient so as to avoid speculation of the cause of this tragedy,” M,urkomen said.
The tragedy has sparked shock and grief across the country, with calls mounting for enhanced safety measures in boarding schools to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Education stakeholders and security agencies are expected to release further updates as the identification process continues and more details emerge regarding the circumstances surrounding the deadly blaze.
