Kenya Education Minister Confirms 16 Student Deaths in School Dormitory Fire
Education Minister Julius Ogamba verified the casualty toll at Utumishi Girls School in Nakuru County, while senior police commander Masoud Mwinyi leads an ongoing search for students who fled the overnight incident.
At least 16 students have been killed and 79 injured following a fire that broke out overnight at the Utumishi Girls School dormitory in Gilgil, Nakuru County, central Kenya. Education Minister Julius Ogamba confirmed the specific casualty figures on Thursday, marking a significant escalation in the crisis at the facility located approximately 120km northwest of the capital, Nairobi.
Police have taken the lead on rescue and emergency response operations in the town. Masoud Mwinyi, a senior police commander, stated that 50 officers are currently combing the areas surrounding the school for students who may have fled the premises during the night. “Of that shock and fear and anxiety, many people went out, and it was at night,” Mwinyi told reporters at the scene, highlighting the chaotic conditions that complicate the search for missing pupils.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is under active investigation. Visual evidence captured by Citizen Television showed broken window panes and smoke-stained walls at the facility, indicating the intensity of the blaze. The Kenya Red Cross is currently coordinating emergency support for the victims and their families as authorities work to establish the origin of the fire.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of recurring safety issues within the Kenyan education sector. Government data recorded more than 60 cases of arson in public secondary schools in 2018 alone. Researchers have noted that many such fires are set by students protesting against harsh discipline and poor living conditions, pointing to systemic governance challenges within the boarding school system.
Historical precedents suggest this is not an isolated event. In 2024, a fire killed 21 students at a primary boarding school in nearby Nyeri County, though the cause was not conclusively established. Similarly, in 2017, 10 students died in a school fire in Nairobi, resulting in a murder charge against a student. As the investigation into the Utumishi Girls School fire proceeds, local and national authorities are expected to review the circumstances surrounding the blaze and the broader safety infrastructure of the institution.
