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Eight pupils detained in connection with fatal dormitory blaze
Kenyan police have arrested eight students suspected of involvement in a fire that killed 16 girls at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, approximately 120 km northwest of Nairobi. The blaze erupted early Thursday on the upper floor of a dormitory housing 135 bunk beds.
Investigation details
Following interviews with students and staff, along with a review of CCTV footage, authorities identified the eight pupils as "persons of interest" in the planning and execution of the fire, according to a statement from the National Police Service. The exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Police traced the students to their homes and brought them back to the school for questioning, while others were detained in the area. The eight were among 30 students initially recalled by detectives probing the incident.
Safety violations uncovered
Education Minister Julius Ogamba revealed preliminary findings pointing to multiple safety breaches at the school. These included overcrowding in the dormitory and a locked exit door, both of which violated prescribed safety regulations.
"In particular, there was congestion in the dormitory and one exit door was locked, contrary to the prescribed safety requirements,"
Julius Ogamba, Education Minister
The minister dissolved the school's board of management and ordered disciplinary action against the headteacher. He confirmed that legal steps would be taken against anyone found negligent in their duties.
Families seek answers amid grief
Distraught parents and relatives gathered outside the school, demanding updates on their children. Security was tightened as crowds called for swift accountability. Njuki Nthimba, searching for his niece, told the BBC he had been waiting since 07:00 without information.
"Some officers came from the school and asked the parents to group themselves in three groups. Group one is for parents whose children have been arrested in relation to the incident, group two is parents whose children died, and group three is parents who don't know where their children are," he said.
Samuel Githua, looking for his sister, shared his anguish: "I don't know where my sister is. We've been told some children are in hospital, some in the mortuary... Our mother died when we were young, so I have taken care of her like a father and mother. She has been my child."
Casualties and response
The fire injured 79 pupils, some of whom sustained injuries after jumping from the first floor. Seven critically injured students were transferred to Nairobi for specialized treatment, while the rest were treated and discharged. The bodies of the deceased have been moved to a nearby mortuary for preservation and DNA identification.
History of school fires in Kenya
Kenya has a troubling record of school fires, with at least 21 deaths reported in a similar dormitory blaze in central Kenya two years ago. Many incidents have been attributed to arson, often involving disgruntled students protesting discipline or living conditions. Others have resulted from accidents, with overcrowding and ignored safety protocols frequently cited as contributing factors.
