A fire that broke out in a dormitory at Utumishi Girls' Academy in Gilgil, Kenya, has claimed the lives of at least 16 students on Wednesday night. Kenyan Education Minister Julius Ogamba confirmed the death toll, adding that 79 other students were injured.
The fire started around 1 a.m. local time while the students were asleep. The flames quickly spread through the dormitory, which housed approximately 220 girls, causing panic. Some students, in a desperate attempt to escape the flames, jumped from the upper floors. Rescue operations were immediately launched, but the damage was already extensive when the fire was brought under control.
The causes of the fire are currently unknown. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen has called for calm and asked the public to avoid speculation before the investigation's conclusions. Authorities have placed the school under high surveillance, limiting access to parents and guardians. Julius Ogamba stated that an investigation will be conducted to determine whether the school's fire safety manual was followed.
This tragedy highlights the issue of fire safety in Kenyan schools. Fires in boarding schools are relatively common, often linked to arson, electrical problems, or poor living conditions. In September 2024, 17 students died in a similar fire in Nyeri County. In 2017, a fire in Nairobi killed 10 students. The Kenyan government is regularly called upon to strengthen safety standards and conduct regular checks in schools.
The Kenyan Red Cross has deployed psychosocial support teams to assist students and families affected by this tragedy. The investigation will need to determine the exact causes of this fire and any potential liabilities, in order to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
