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Tragedy strikes Utumishi Girls Academy
Sixteen students died and seven remain hospitalized after a fire swept through a dormitory at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Kenya, early Thursday, officials confirmed.
Rescue efforts and casualties
The blaze erupted around 01:00 local time (22:00 GMT Wednesday) while students slept. Police and emergency teams conducted search-and-rescue operations as flames engulfed a building housing approximately 220 girls.
Education Minister Julius Ogamba reported that 71 injured students were treated and discharged, while seven required further medical attention. Some students fled in panic, and authorities continued to locate missing individuals in nearby areas.
Officials respond amid grief
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, visiting the scene, expressed condolences to affected families and urged the public to avoid speculation. "It's a very anxious moment," he said. "Together, we stand with the families in prayer and support."
Police commander Masoud Mwinyi described the situation as "sad and distressing" while addressing parents gathered outside the cordoned-off school.
Survivors recount chaos
Wambui Nderitu, whose cousin attends the school, said arriving families faced confusion and fear. "Most of us were so worried because we had heard some students had died," she said.
Nderitu explained that some students sustained injuries after jumping from upper-floor windows to escape. Her cousin survived but suffered a broken leg.
History of school fires in Kenya
Deadly fires in Kenyan boarding schools have occurred frequently in recent years. Many incidents were linked to arson by disgruntled students protesting discipline or living conditions, while others resulted from accidents.
Overcrowding and safety violations, such as blocked exits and locked windows, have often worsened casualties. In 2001, 67 students died in Machakos County after a dormitory fire. More recently, 21 people perished in a 2024 blaze in central Kenya.
Government records show 126 arson cases in schools between January and November 2020, with 60 incidents reported in 2018 alone, according to research cited by Reuters.
Investigation underway
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire. The Kenya Red Cross assisted emergency responders at the scene, while police continued their inquiry.
