A devastating fire at Utumishi Girls School in Gilgil has claimed the lives of at least 16 students, while dozens of others sustained injuries after flames engulfed a dormitory in the early hours of Thursday.
The incident occurred at the boarding school located about 120 kilometres from Nairobi, with authorities confirming that many students were asleep when the fire broke out around 1:00 a.m. local time.
Police and the Kenya Red Cross said the blaze rapidly spread through a dormitory accommodating approximately 220 students, triggering panic as occupants attempted to escape.
Officials disclosed that nearly 74 students were taken to hospitals for treatment, with some suffering serious injuries during the chaos.
Emergency responders and rescue teams were deployed to the school shortly after the outbreak, while investigations commenced to determine the cause of the fire.
Police commander Masoud Mwinyi described the tragedy as deeply distressing as worried parents and residents gathered outside the school premises seeking information about their children.
Authorities said several students fled into nearby communities during the confusion, prompting security personnel to launch search operations in surrounding areas.
The school compound was later sealed off to allow rescue workers and investigators carry out operations, while access was restricted mainly to parents and guardians.
A relative of one of the students, Wambui Nderitu, said many families arrived at the school in shock after hearing reports of deaths and injuries.
According to her, some students sustained injuries after jumping from upper floors in desperate attempts to escape the flames. She added that her cousin survived the incident but fractured a leg while fleeing the burning building.
School fire incidents have remained a recurring concern in Kenya, with past investigations linking many outbreaks to arson attacks, overcrowded dormitories and poor compliance with safety regulations.
Authorities have previously reported cases where students allegedly set school facilities ablaze in protest against disciplinary measures or living conditions, while some fires were traced to accidental causes.
One of the country’s deadliest school fire disasters occurred in 2001 in Machakos County, where 67 students died after a dormitory was deliberately set on fire.
Additional fatal school fire incidents were also recorded in 2017, 2022 and 2024, raising continued concerns over safety standards in Kenyan boarding schools.
In 2021, Kenya’s education ministry informed lawmakers that at least 126 cases of school arson were recorded between January and November 2020.
Police said investigations into the latest tragedy were ongoing as authorities worked to establish the exact cause of the blaze.
